Putrajaya to amend draconian laws soon, says Dr Mahathir

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 6 years ago · Published on 5 Nov 2019 11:17PM · 4 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 will be amended, not abolished, to remove the possibility of abusing the law. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 5, 2019.

PUTRAJAYA will be looking to amend draconian laws soon, including the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, or Sosma, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

He hopes that changes can be made swiftly and tabled during the current parliamentary session.

“Even though we not going to abolish it, we are going to make changes to the parts that are draconian,” he said after the Pakatan Harapan presidential meeting in Putrajaya.

“We will look into amending sections such as detention without trial as soon as possible to prevent abuse.

A total of 12 men, including two DAP assemblymen, are currently detained under Sosma.

They were charged on October 29 and 31 with multiple offences related to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, more commonly known as the Tamil Tigers.

On October 16, Law Minister Liew Vui Keong had said in Parliament that the provisions under review for amendment include the period of detention and access to legal representation.

Last week, two of the 12 men arrested for supporting the Tamil Tigers were charged.

Meanwhile, the other 10 men faced additional charges, having already been charged earlier this week.

If convicted, the men could be looking at 30 years to life in prison, a fine and confiscation of any properties used in the offence. 

None of the men have entered a plea, which for Sosma trials will only take place when the matter is transferred to the high court.

Sosma also does not allow suspects to be released on bail. – November 5, 2019.

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Comments

  • 1. You suffer a severe trust deficit
    2. Your party faces a by election
    3. Your lack of action speaks much louder than words

    Posted 6 years ago by Julian Nagelsmann · Reply

  • Agreed

    Posted 6 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • Talk is cheap. He has no intention of doing anything whatsoever in moving SOSMA, his new found toy.
    After all, isn't this the man who said that he had no intention of fulfilling any of the Manifesto promises?

    Posted 6 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • We have had to endure your style of saying things for many years. These poor men and their families you have sought to punish with this draconian legislation ( was supposed to have been repealed according to PH Manifesto) has brought so much anguish and hardship to the Indian community. You continue to use these same tools to get rid of political opponents while saying with a "straight face' that these laws should be repealed. We have seen it many times-and Malaysians dont like it. You MUST KEEP YOUR WORD. Repeal these oppressive laws. Start the jury system, and do away with detention without trial-it is uncivilized.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Lucas · Reply