SOSMA detainees need rehabilitation to get over the trauma and torture of detention of up to 28 days, said a lawyer who has dealt with a number of cases.

Farida Mohd, a lawyer with human rights group Suaram, said many detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 have no prior criminal record.

“When someone is arrested under Sosma, 28 days detention is confirmed. In that period, they will be badly tortured by the police.”  

“In my opinion, the 28 days is unnecessary and causes great emotional distress for detainees,” she said at a forum titled “Is Sosma still relevant in New Malaysia” in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 

Detainees also have problems adapting to “normal life” after their release as many face discrimination in the job market.

She cited an example of a detainee held for six years. The individual’s bank account was frozen and he could not get his first pay before the recent Raya celebrations. 

“I urge the new government to abolish Sosma, Poca (Prevention of Crime Act 1959) and Pota (Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015) as well as taking care of the welfare of the detainees’ families,” said Farida.

Meanwhile, a father of a former Sosma detainee Atam Jusoh, 63, said his daughter, Siti Noor Aishah Atam, was arrested without any evidence.

“They said she possessed books deemed as items linked to terrorism but those were for her thesis,” he told reporter at the sidelines of the forum.

Siti Aishah was arrested in 2016 and released this year but is currently under house arrest under Poca. She is restricted to Kg Sura, Dungun, Terengganu.

Atam said his 31-year-old daughter has plans to continue her studies in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) but cannot do so because of the house arrest.

“It is really difficult for her. I know she is not guilty and I feel sorry for her,” he said.

Another family member of a current Sosma detainee, Norsham Jalani, 43, expressed hopes that his brother, Azmi, will be released soon.

Azmi, 28, was formerly in the air force but was arrested in 2015 for allegedly planning to kidnap the prime minister.

“He is so demotivated in the detention and we make a point to visit him every week since the arrest.”

Azmi was sacked after the arrest. The family plan to sue the government for Azmi’s release. – July 19, 2018.