THE Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) needs to be abolished immediately as it has been abused, said lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah.

Maria, who herself had been detained under Sosma during the Barisan Nasional administration in 2016, said there have been many human rights abuses reported by family members of those detained under the law.

“There is no other way but to abolish Sosma,” said Maria at a forum titled ‘Who is the Terrorist’ in Petaling Jaya, Selangor today.

“Sosma is not needed because we have other laws in the country, laws that are still functioning and can be used to fight terror.”

Recalling her arrest, the Petaling Jaya MP and former Bersih 2.0 chairperson said her detention was purely political, since her organisation managed to collect the support of the people for a free and fair election. 

“It was because of my work in Bersih – purely political and the police told me that Sosma can be used on politicians, terrorism and also crime,” she said.

“This is a clear abuse of power and I have been told that many detainees have suffered from torture.

“Guilty or not guilty, they must have a fair trial and arrests must be made with evidence.”

She urged the new government to expedite the formation of The Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission in order to allow an independent body to investigate police wrongdoings. 

Maria was detained for 10 days by the police under Section 124C of the Penal Code for engaging in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy and held under Sosma, which empowers police to arrest and detain a person up to 28 days.

Police also have the power to “suspend” a detainee’s right to meet their family and lawyers for up to 48 hours. No bail is allowed for those arrested under Sosma. – February 9, 2019.