THE controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act of 2012 (Sosma) is set to stay for the next five years after Dewan Negara voted to approve its extension.

Approved last night, the motion on the review of the implementation of subsection 4 (5) of the Act was submitted by Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

He said the proposed extension on the maximum 28-day detention period under subsection 4 (5) of Sosma was the first since it came into force on July 31, 2012.

“We look at Maria Chin’s (Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah) case. She is not a political detainee. What is her political party? So the allegation that Sosma is being used on political detainees is not true,” he said.

He added that throughout the enforcement period, there were no incidents of detainees dying or being injured from abuse.

The Senate also passed the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2017, which was seen as, among others, an effort to combat sexual crimes in general.

The 28-day maximum detention period of Sosma is to be enforced for another five years from July 31. The Act was passed at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on April 4. – April 28, 2017.