KUALA LUMPUR – Justice for the victims is among factors taken into account in the motion to extend the enforcement of Subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 (Act 747).
Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas-BN) said police should be given a tool to carry out their investigations and give justice to victims.
“Sosma is a police tool to carry out investigations, not trouble anyone or abuse their power, no. Our intention is good, just to give a tool to the police to investigate,” he said when debating the motion at the Dewan Rakyat today.
The subsection, among others, states that a police officer with the rank of a superintendent or higher can extend the detention of a person for up to 28 days for the purpose of investigation.
Also debating the motion today was Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-Bersatu), who opined that the detention of a person for up to 28 days would enable police to carry out a detailed investigation and gather all evidence before bringing detainees to court.
He said this was because offences under Sosma were not just regular crimes, but were related to terrorist activities and actions that could threaten public order and national security.
“A classic example is the intrusion of foreign terrorists in Lahad Datu in 2013, which saw more than 100 people charged under Sosma,” he said.
The motion, which received protests from the opposition bloc, was also debated by Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor-PH) who raised concerns that if the motion is passed, it could lead to abuse of power, especially when the detainee is under a remand order.
“It is during that time that we see many complaints of false confessions being extracted and even of assaults to obtain confessions. So this remand period is very crucial.
“In the case of Sosma, the remand period is to be allowed for up to 28 days. Imagine what can happen during that time, and how it can be abused. We have to balance it with rights, not just of the victims, but also of the accused, who should be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Meanwhile, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang-PH) raised the issue of justice for people detained under Sosma only to be found innocent later.
“What will safeguard the rights of the accused in this situation… when they are found innocent after being detained for so long?
“Can’t the authorities complete the investigations anytime earlier?” he chided.
A total of 18 lawmakers participated in the debate on the motion. – Bernama, July 26, 2022
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