PUTRAJAYA will not be able to table amendments to the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, or Sosma, in the current parliament meeting said Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

According to Muhyiddin, work on the changes began some time ago but a lot of feedback from the stakeholders is required.

“We need to engage them. I had tabled our initial changes to the cabinet some months ago, but we decided it needed to be fine-tuned further,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Putrajaya wanted to amend draconian laws soon, including the controversial Sosma.

He hoped that changes could be made swiftly and tabled during the current parliamentary sitting.

“Even though we are 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 last night.

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

Muhyiddin said one of the key areas of contention was the 28-day detention period without trial.

“However, the police felt that if it involved terrorism, they needed more time to investigate to come to the right decision,” he said

Muhyiddin said one possible solution to resolve this would be to set a 14-day detention period, after which the police would have to apply for an extension from the courts.

He noted this would be one way to ensure checks and balance.

The issue resurfaced after police arrested and detained 12 men, including two DAP assemblymen, 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.

Previously, 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 6, 2019.