Don’t axe Sosma, improve it, says ex-IGP
Former IGP Musa Hassan says the 14-day detention period given to police for investigations is not enough for certain cases.
KUALA LUMPUR: A former top cop has called for the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma, to be retained and enhanced instead of axing it as urged by rights groups.
Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said those against Sosma may not realise that the present 14-day detention period given to police for investigations was not enough for certain cases.
Sub-section 4(5) of Sosma allows the police to detain a person suspected of being involved in terrorist activities for a period not exceeding 28 days for investigations, without a court order.
“There are some people saying police can detain someone for 14 days for investigations. That is not enough,” Musa told reporters here today.
“Criminals can run free (after 14 days) and this would make the police investigations troublesome.
“Sosma should remain and be reviewed for improvements, not abolished outright.”
He said the extra 14 days was necessary as more time was needed to investigate organised criminal syndicates, especially how they are run and financed. The additional time would also help police trace the criminals’ network and underlings.
Musa said Sosma was unlike the previous Internal Security Act (ISA), where one can be detained without trial.
Implemented in June 2012 as a replacement for the now-abolished ISA, Sosma was enacted under a constitutional provision that provides broad powers against subversion, threats to public order, acts of terrorism, sabotage and espionage.
However, its use has been a long-standing controversy, and it was opposed by Pakatan Harapan even before the 2018 general election.
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently said a review of Sosma was not needed as the law was necessary to tackle organised crime-related cases. His statement drew brickbats from human rights organisations and politicians.
The minister later acknowledged that certain provisions in Sosma might need to be reviewed from “time to time”, though he reiterated that there would not be any amendments to the Act for now.
Last Friday, deputy law minister Ramkarpal Singh said Saifuddin has agreed to hold discussions with relevant stakeholders to review the law.
KUALA LUMPUR: A former top cop has called for the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma, to be retained and enhanced instead of axing it as urged by rights groups.
Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said those against Sosma may not realise that the present 14-day detention period given to police for investigations was not enough for certain cases.
Sub-section 4(5) of Sosma allows the police to detain a person suspected of being involved in terrorist activities for a period not exceeding 28 days for investigations, without a court order.
“There are some people saying police can detain someone for 14 days for investigations. That is not enough,” Musa told reporters here today.
“Criminals can run free (after 14 days) and this would make the police investigations troublesome.
“Sosma should remain and be reviewed for improvements, not abolished outright.”
He said the extra 14 days was necessary as more time was needed to investigate organised criminal syndicates, especially how they are run and financed. The additional time would also help police trace the criminals’ network and underlings.
Musa said Sosma was unlike the previous Internal Security Act (ISA), where one can be detained without trial.
Implemented in June 2012 as a replacement for the now-abolished ISA, Sosma was enacted under a constitutional provision that provides broad powers against subversion, threats to public order, acts of terrorism, sabotage and espionage.
However, its use has been a long-standing controversy, and it was opposed by Pakatan Harapan even before the 2018 general election.
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently said a review of Sosma was not needed as the law was necessary to tackle organised crime-related cases. His statement drew brickbats from human rights organisations and politicians.
The minister later acknowledged that certain provisions in Sosma might need to be reviewed from “time to time”, though he reiterated that there would not be any amendments to the Act for now.
Last Friday, deputy law minister Ramkarpal Singh said Saifuddin has agreed to hold discussions with relevant stakeholders to review the law.
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