Two human rights bodies today urged the government to withdraw its proposed new anti-terror legislation , which could see lawyers and accountants facing the death penalty for providing services to terrorists, for further revision.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and National Human Rights Society (Hakam) said there were "problems and weaknesses" in the proposed legislation, and that existing laws could deal sufficiently with terrorism.

"Why should there be a new set of criminal offences for the act of 'terrorism' when there are more than adequate laws to investigate, charge and prosecute such activities?" asked Hakam secretary-general Elizabeth Wong during a briefing with MPs at the Parliament.

She cited 12 other laws that could be invoked to deal with this matter. These included the Abduction and Criminal Intimidation of Witnesses Act, Arms Act, Aviation Offences Act, Poison Act, Explosives Act and the Extra-Territorial Act.

Moreover, she said the government has failed to explain why and how existing laws are inadequate to tackle terrorism.

"What is considered as unlawful or criminal should not be elevated to the definition of terrorism. There is an urgent need for the government to withdraw this bill and re-examine it with the intention to revise and tighten it," she said.

'Consult others'

Wong said the government should also consult various bodies such as the Bar Council, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and human rights groups.

The proposed action is provided for under the bill of amendment to the Penal Code - this will introduce a chapter on criminal offences termed as "terrorism".

It aims to punish not only terrorists but those who provide them with services or facilities, including lawyers and accountants.

The proposal also provides for tough sentences for those who harbour or interfere with the arrest of terrorists, recruit members into a terrorist group, provide them with explosives or facilities such as meeting places.

The first reading of the bill was passed on Sept 9, while the debate on the second reading started last Wednesday and will resume tomorrow. The bill is expected to be passed.

'Draconian' provisions

Also present at the briefing were several opposition parliamentarians and lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad, Edmund Bon, Edward Saw and Latheefa Koya.

Amer expressed disappointment that the bill was drafted without consulting the Bar Council despite the fact that it will affect lawyers.

"Lawyers could be punished for upholding human rights issues," he said, adding that the definitions in the bill were vague.

Bon said the government had an 'ulterior agenda' in proposing the bill, which he described as draconian.

He added that the new law would be another tool for the government to suppress political dissent.

"Under the Federal Constitution, everyone has the right to consult a lawyer upon arrest and the Legal Profession Act also stipulates that lawyers must act without fear or favour," he said.

Elaborating, the lawyer said one provision under the bill which classified a terrorist act as one that "involves prejudice to national security or public safety" could also deny a trade union its right to call a strike.

Opposition parliamentarians later submitted a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, demanding that the bill be deferred and referred to a Dewan Rakyat select committee for six months in order to obtain public feedback.