PUTRAJAYA will amend instead of repeal the Special Offences (Special Measures) Act, said Liew Vui Keong, following an outcry over the detention of 12 people, including two DAP elected officials, under the law last week.

De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong said the cabinet has discussed the law and decided that parts of it would be changed.
 
“Two areas the government looked at are the detention of 28 days and (lack of access) to lawyers,” he said in the Parliament lobby today.

The amendments will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat after the Home Ministry has completed its review, said Liew.

“I was told they (Home Ministry) have been looking into it and if they can slot it into the current meeting, it will be good. Otherwise, we still have time next year,” he said.

Section 4(5) of Sosma gives power to the police to detain a person suspected of being involved in terrorist activities for up to 28 days for investigation.

Section 4(11) of SOSMA states that sub-section 4(5) shall be reviewed every five years and shall cease to have effect when the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara agree not to extend it.

Parliament approved the extension to Section 4 in April 2017 and the section will come up for review in 2022.

Meanwhile, Liew told reporters a new law on political funding will be reviewed by a select committee before it is tabled in Dewan Rakyat.

“The Political Funding Act has been discussed in the cabinet and we have decided to refer it to the Consideration of Bills select committee as it involves all politicians.

“Hopefully, we can table this law in the next sitting,” said the Batu Sapi MP. – October 15, 2019.