Two panels to study Sosma, Pota and Poca

THE government has set up a special committee and a technical committee to study in detail the legal provisions in the Security Offences Special Measures Act (Sosma), Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) and Prevention of Crime Act (Poca), the Dewan Rakat was told.

Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said matters being deliberated by the two committees included the detention periods, which were deemed too long, the police’s powers of arrest that were seen to be very vast and could be abused and judicial intervention where the courts’ powers on these laws had been diluted.

He said the two committees were very important to evaluate all proposals submitted to them in their series of meetings with the stakeholders.

“Now the study is at the final stage where we are preparing the draft papers to be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. After that, the Cabinet will deliberate on it (the study) before it is brought to the Parliament.

“If can, it will be brought up at this meeting (of Parliament) or latest at the next meeting in March,” he said during the question-andanswer session yesterday.

He was replying to a question from Maria Chin Abdullah (PH-Petaling Jaya), who wanted to know why the government was clinging onto these preventive detention laws when the Criminal Procedure Code sufficed.

To a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) whether the government would repeal Sosma or replace it with other legislation, Muhyiddin said all bills brought to the Parliament and passed based on the Constitution were very important.

He said that without the Sosma, Pota and Poca, he could not assure the people that Malaysia would be the safe nation it is today.

However, Muhyiddin said the study was needed to ensure there were no elements that could be deemed as oppressive or violating human rights.

He said that so far, almost 2,000 people were detained under Sosma, Pota (nine) and Poca (475).

Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, refuted allegations that his party is luring Umno MPs to jump ship.

He said stating allegiance to a particular party is a personal choice and Bersatu had never set up any task force or team to court Umno members.

“I think if there is any intention by Umno members to join us, not necessarily those at the top level, that is their choice.

“The party (Bersatu) is open to all, not just Umno, but non-Umno (members) or individuals who think they want to participate in the party. They are welcome,” he said. – Bernama