DEPUTY Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin says he personally supports the proposal to abolish the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

He said the act should be repealed because it is a form of tyranny.

“Sosma is under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry and I cannot interfere, but I have no problem with repealing it.

“I was told in the post Cabinet meeting prior to this, a special committee had been set up to study the issue of Sosma,”  he said after meeting with family members of detainees at the Sungai Buloh Prison here today.

More than 100 family members had gathered in front of the prison since 11am after some 160 Sosma detainees in the Sungai Buloh Prison began a hunger strike last night urging the government to abolish the act.

Hanipa also urged the Sosma detainees to stop their hunger strike because it could endanger their health.

“Everyone knows the message they (detainees) want to convey, so I hope they stop the strike and not let it endanger their lives,” he said.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas has said that Sosma would be abolished as promised by the ​​​​​​​Pakatan Harapan government, but that it would take some time. – Bernama, August 26, 2018.