Malaysia

[UPDATED] Dewan passes motion to extend Sosma subsection for five more years

Bloc vote sees 111 in support, 88 opposed, 21 absent

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 26 Jul 2022 5:12PM

[UPDATED] Dewan passes motion to extend Sosma subsection for five more years — Subsection 4(5) of Sosma, among others, states that a police officer with the rank of superintendent or higher may extend the period of detention for a duration not exceeding 28 days for the purpose of investigation. – Bernama pic, July 26, 2022

by Danial Dzulkifly

KUALA LUMPUR – The motion to extend the enforcement of Subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma for another five years beginning this July 31 was passed in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The extension was passed via a bloc vote with 111 in support and 88 opposed, while 21 lawmakers were absent.

Subsection 4(5) of Sosma, among others, states that a police officer with the rank of superintendent or higher may extend the period of detention for a duration not exceeding 28 days for the purpose of investigation.

Prior to bloc voting, fierce debate erupted over the motion, with government lawmakers standing by the 28-day detention, saying it is necessary to investigate complicated and organised crime.

During the motion’s debate today, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-Bersatu) said the then Pakatan Harapan (PH) government never discussed amending Sosma despite criticism.

This includes his tenure as home minister under PH in 2019, when 12 people, including two DAP assemblymen, were arrested under Sosma on charges of being involved with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a defunct organisation.

However, this puts Muhyiddin in the firing line, with several opposition lawmakers accusing him of misleading the house.

Among them was Khalid Samad (Shah Alam-PH) who said that PH at the time wanted detailed studies into Sosma for further amendments.

However, Muhyiddin replied that while a study was made, “no decision was made”.

Other notable Sosma arrests included Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan in 2015, who was detained for allegedly sabotaging the country’s banking and financial services.

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who was detained under Sosma, had claimed that her 10-day detention, from November 18, 2016, on the eve of the Bersih 5.0 rally was not justifiable.

The government had then agreed to pay RM25,000 in damages and RM5,000 in costs to her over her detention, but without admission of liability. – The Vibes, July 26, 2022