THE Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will review the conditions for children detained under the Prevention Of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) as they cannot be treated the same as adults.

Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said those under the age of 18 who were arrested must be separated from the adult detainees.

“If they are children, they are not the same as other convicts,

“We have to review (to ensure) that they are not put together in the same environment. There are things in this kind of environment that no child should be exposed to,” she told reporters after giving out mandarin oranges to shoppers at the Taman Muda market.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the deputy prime minister, said she will put forward the recommendation for a review to the relevant ministries.

On human rights groups’ demand for Poca to be repealed, she said police needed the law for emergencies and to safeguard public safety.

Human rights group Suaram and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) recently called for the release of 142 children detained under harsh security laws.

They also reminded Pakatan Harapan of its promise to repeal the Poca as well as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

In 2016, then home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that there were more than 150 juveniles detained without trial.

Dr Wan Azizah said as of January 30, there is only one Poca detainee aged below 18 .

The minor has been in custody for two years at the Kluang Rehabilitation Centre for taking part in an armed robbery. – February 1, 2019.