THE Home Ministry has set up a special committee to review laws deemed to not uphold human rights, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the committee, which was set up last week, is chaired by ministry Secretary-General Alwi Ibrahim.

“We will look at and review the laws that come under the Home Ministry. Among those raised are the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota) and Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca),” he told reporters at a breaking-of-fast event at Saidina Hamzah Mosque in Kg Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

“Our goal is to determine that, in implementing domestic laws, the people do not feel that they are being used for political purposes, (that the laws are used) to punish certain parties due to differences in ideology and so on.”

The home minister said reviewing such laws was among Pakatan Harapan’s election pledges.

“It was included among PH’s promises… any law that is considered to have elements of cruelty, oppression, injustice, and which may be considered contrary to human rights, and laws that are not clear in their implementation, will be examined in depth.

“This may take some time. When we are ready, we will have meetings… to clarify whether the amendments are adequate or suitable, before they are brought to the cabinet and, subsequently, Parliament.”

On May 22, Muhyiddin was reported as saying the ministry will review seven laws related to national security that are not suitable in this day and age.

They are the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sedition Act 1948, Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, Poca, Sosma and Pota, as well as the mandatory death sentence. – Bernama, June 4, 2018.