The amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 "bulldozed through Parliament", while being aimed at crime is "highly dangerous" as it is open to abuse, cautioned Kampar MP Ko Chung Sen.

"We cannot give the police unlimited power that cannot be questioned. As we know, the police here already had a poor record when it comes to abuse of power.

NONE "To punish the wrong innocent people is inexcusable and indefensible. We will do worse than Myanmar in locking up Aung San Suu Kyi," he said in a statement today.

Cautioning the public not to be "emotional" when dealing with the question of curbing crime, Ko warned that while sympathising with criminals was "bad, to lock up innocent people is worse".

"We know in this country, people find it difficult to trust the police, the judges and the government not to cover one another.

NONE "So a law like this which may be effective in reducing crime, is highly dangerous to be abused," said the DAP parliamentarian ( above, right ).

He asked how many crimes were actually prevented by the over 10,000 people locked up in Ops Cantas Khas, in contrast to the damage it inflicted.

"How many families are destroyed? So a person who was convicted of crimes and served the sentences had to be punished again and again and forever?" he asked.

"The really big time criminals probably are protected by connections anyway," he added.

'Crime prevention vs abuse'

The highly criticised amendments to the Act were passed yesterday , despite BN component parties earlier saying they disagreed with preventive detention laws.

NONE Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming today slammed MCA and Gerakan MPs for not voting against the amendments depite their public statements.

Nga's proposal to the house to amend the Bill to include legal representation was also defeated.

The amended PCA now empowers the government to detain suspects without trial for up to two years, which can be extended for another two years.

Ko, a first-time MP, lamented that the new law offers little protection for the innocent and said a balance must be struck.

"There is a balance to crime prevention and protection of innocent people.

"We hope the people can see from a broader view rather than react with irrational emotions," he said.

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