HUMAN rights groups have demanded the immediate release of 159 juveniles arrested and detained without trial under the country’s security laws.

In a written parliamentary reply dated October 31, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 142 juveniles had been arrested under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) and a further 17 minors were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) since both laws came into force. 

Rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) called for the immediate release of the detained children or for the government to charge them in juvenile courts.

“Suaram reiterates its stance that laws permitting detention without trial have no place in a democratic state and must be abolished immediately,” said Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy in a statement today.

“Reflecting on the gruesome allegations of torture and abuse suffered by detainees under Sosma and Poca, and the systematic use of solitary confinement for detainees under Sosma, Suaram is shocked that the Malaysian government considers it necessary for minors to be subjected to detention in these conditions,” it said.

“To this end, Suaram calls for all minors detained under Sosma and Poca to be released immediately.”

The local rights group also urged for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the “unconscionable” decision to allow minors to be detained without trial.

In Zahid’s parliamentary reply, he did not state the reasons for the juveniles’ arrests, merely saying that they were being investigated.

Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham) also urged the government to respect the rights of children as embodied in the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly and recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“The arrests under Poca provides for a detention without trial,” said Proham chair Kuthubul Zaman in a statement today.

“Hence, these children have been deprived of their basic human rights; children deprived of liberty can be vulnerable to abuses.”

Zaman said children, because of their physical and mental immaturity, needed special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection.

“Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly provides that no child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment,” he said.

“It also clearly provides that no child shall be deprived of his/her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. As Malaysia is a signatory to this convention, the government must take all appropriate measures to ensure that children are protected against all forms of discriminations and punishments.

“All children have the right to the protection of the law and access to justice.” – November 8, 2017.