RESTORING the reputation of the police force, reforming draconian laws, and eradicating problems related to drug offences and undocumented foreign workers rank high on the home minister’s to do list.

In a special interview in conjunction with Pakatan Harapan’s first year anniversary, minister Muhyiddin Yassin said some of the coalition’s promises are still work in progress.

Reviewing the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the police force to ensure that operations are undertaken the right way is among the ministry’s key priorities.

“We are hoping that the negative perception towards the police force will tone down with efforts to restore the force’s reputation.

“We are embarking on internal efforts which include reviewing and improving the SOP of the police.”

In addition to that, the government through the Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem) is stepping up border security efforts.

The ministry is working towards mitigating logistics issues and deploying the right defence assets to guard Malaysian waters, he said.

Muhyiddin said efforts are also afoot to reform six draconian laws.

The six laws are the Sedition Act, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca), Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota), The Printing Presses and Publication Act and the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA).

The proposed amendments to Sosma and the PAA are in the final stages of preparation and the bills are expected to be debated in Parliament in the upcoming sitting.

“The law is the law. It is enacted to prevent anything that is not contributing to peace and harmony of the country.

“Of course we will also be enacting new laws if necessary and amending the existing laws to make sure that the law must not be draconian, primitive or cruel. That is the reason why we are looking at making the laws more humane.”

In view of the recent cases of racial and religious tensions, Muhyiddin said religious leaders and the community also have a role to play in preserving the country’s multi-racial fabric as there is only so much the law can do.

Drug abuse is another serious problem that warrants more attention, he said.

While the issue of drug abuse has been going on for a long time, Muhyiddin said it requires the joint effort of all parties including the people and civil societies to overcome.

The government is also embarking on efforts to improve rehabilitation programmes for drug users in a bid to reduce the number of inmates in the already crowded prison cells.

However, drug pushers and dealers will be dealt with in accordance to the law and will have to serve out their prison sentences.

Although enforcement actions have been going on to curb the issue of illegal foreign workers,  Muhyiddin said more measures are required to resolve the problem.

The issue of illegal foreign workers is a tough one to tackle due to syndicates and irresponsible employers wanting to hire undocumented workers to save money.

“We are looking for more ways to resolve the issue by cooperating with state governments and grassroots leaders. Hopefully this will reduce the problem.”

The Home Affairs and Human Resources Ministries are spearheading a joint commission to review the demand for foreign workers and form a system to regulate the matter.

As of the first quarter of this year, some 11,000 illegal foreign workers have been detained for various offences.

Granting citizenship to some 1,641 Indians aged 60 and above who have held red ICs, which is equivalent to permanent residence, were among the progress made by the ministry in the last one year.

PH said in its manifesto that it will resolve the citizenship woes of 3,407 Malaysian belonging to the Indian community who are holders of the red IC.

Touching on the allegations hurled at the government for purportedly camouflaging the true cause of death of Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, Muhyiddin said there is no reason for the government to conceal information from the public.

He explained that it was the government that had ordered for the inquest into the death of the firemen who succumbed to injuries sustained in the Seafield temple riots last year.

“This shows that the government has no intention of hiding anything. Evidence have been presented to the coroners court. We will be fair and just on such matters.”

He said that there are quarters who had tried to incite racial tension by using the Seafield Sri Mariamman Temple riots as an excuse. However, with action by the Home Ministry and the police the issue was contained before it went out of hand.

On top of that, PH was also accused of not fending for the rights of Islam and Muslims.

Social media postings insulting religion and the rulers have also been rife.

The Bersatu president said the government had investigated 53 cases of people who have insulted religion. Eight of these cases have been brought to court.

He also dismissed allegations by detractors that PH has failed to defend the rights of Islam and the Malays.

The government will not tolerate any act that stokes racial tension and will take stern action against quarters who do so, he said.

Muhyiddin said the government also maintained healthy ties with the Malay rulers. – May 6, 2019.