PARLIAMENTARY Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reforms has called for significant amendments to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, commonly known as SOSMA, emphasising the need to reconcile national security concerns with the protection of individual freedoms.
Committee chairman William Leong Jee Keen (PKR-Selayang) outlined the recommendations after examining a wide range of issues concerning detainees held under the act.
Among the key proposals is a review of the definitions of security offences, terrorism, and organised crime, as well as a reassessment of Section 13, which the committee found to conflict with principles of liberty and human rights.
“However, any amendments must be carried out carefully so as not to undermine the country’s ability to maintain public safety and order,” Leong told the Dewan Rakyat today while presenting the Committee’s Report on Proposed Amendments to SOSMA.
The committee also urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to review Section 4(5) concerning the 28-day detention period under SOSMA. Leong stressed that a shorter timeframe should be considered to ensure that legal reforms are implemented transparently and progressively.
In addition, the panel recommended restoring judicial discretion in matters of remand, bail, and trial procedures, thereby creating a balance between state security interests and the rights of individuals.
“Furthermore, the committee proposes that the use of electronic monitoring devices should be decided by the courts to ensure fairness. The Ministry of Home Affairs must also safeguard the welfare of detainees, including adequate access to food and proper medical care, in accordance with human rights standards,” he said.
Leong added that psychological support for families affected by detention under SOSMA should also be provided, with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and relevant agencies tasked with delivering these services.
The committee’s recommendations reflect an effort to modernise SOSMA by strengthening oversight, safeguarding detainee welfare, and ensuring that national security measures do not come at the expense of constitutional and human rights. - December 3, 2025
