The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has urged the government to defer the Bill to amend the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) 1959 until it can be studied ensure that the proposals do not violate international human rights norms.

Lending weight to a growing chorus of protests, it questioned the aspects that would provide the police with powers to detain individuals without trial for up to two years at a time.

In a statement, Suhakam said this would be inconsistent with the government's aim of moving the country forward to attain developed status in the near future.

NONE "In the government's efforts to combat crime, it is important to ensure that laws enacted are progressive and not retrogressive in character," said Suhakam chairman Hasmy Agam in a statement.

He reminded lawmakers to be mindful of the country's position as a sitting member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

This requires Malaysia to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, he said.

Having studied the Bill that was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Sept 25, Hasmy said Suhakam has found the proposals to be inconsistent with fundamental human rights principles as enshrined in the federal constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The commission therefore deems it important for the government to defer the tabling of the Bill (for second reading tomorrow)," Hasmy said.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today defended the proposed amendments.

Unlike the much-criticised Internal Security Act which was abolished in 2011, he said the amended PCA would empower a three-member board headed by a judge - not the home minister or police - to review the detention of individuals.

Lawyers have however argued that this would still enable detention without trial, given that detainees would only have access to a review of the detention process.

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