THE Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) needs to be widely applied to crack down on syndicate-related criminal activities in the country, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said.

Speaking as a panellist at the National Border Security Seminar 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, today, he said Sosma’s effectiveness could be seen in the successful efforts by the police to curb human trafficking syndicates during his time as Johor police chief. 

“At that time, the use of Sosma was effective in combatting these syndicates, and the arrests not only included the smugglers but also enforcement officers in cahoots with the syndicates,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Ayob felt current laws on cigarette and liquor smuggling were less effective in curbing the activity.

“Like in Johor before this, police arrested the same individual 10 times over the same case. Sosma must be used for crimes involving syndicates, it is only then we can arrest and cripple them,” he said. 

Sosma provides for special measures relating to offences against the country to maintain public order and security.

It was first proposed in 2012 to replace the Internal Security Act 1960, which allows for detention without trial and which has since been repealed. 

In August, Law and Institutional Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said the government’s efforts to look into improving Sosma were almost complete.

In another matter, Ayob said he would not compromise where integrity involving enforcement officers is concerned, citing that he had once arrested a narcotics criminal investigation department chief involved with drug syndicates. – Bernama, September 26, 2023.