Malaysia would not be a country at peace if the Ops Lalang dragnet was not carried out in 1987, BN's Tanjung Karang MP Noh Omar said today.

Noh Omar said that there was a threat of racial riots in 1987 before the dragnet, which saw the arrest of 106 people, was carried out.

"This was because the non-Malays had questioned the rights of Malays," said Noh, a former cabinet minister, while debating amendments to the Security Offences [Special Measures] (Sosma) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

tajuddin abdul rahmanThe amendment seeks to place organised crimes as an offence punishable under Sosma.

"Racial riots almost happened in 1987. Even some of my friends were arrested," said Noh, who explained that he was young back then and was also involved in a major rally in Stadium Merdeka.

He said that it was not only opposition politicians, but Umno politicians who were also arrested during the dragnet- referring to current Agriculture and Agro-based Industries deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (right), who was one of those arrested.

"That is why now we need Sosma, because the ISA is not around anymore," Noh said.

Gangsters the 'new threat'

He described gangsters as the "new threat" to the country.

"For example, if one (gangster) dies, there is a huge procession. Malaysia is becoming a cowboy country. This is creating fear among the public," Noh said.

However, Hanipa Maidin (PAS-Sepang) later asked Noh to argue with "facts" and demanded he reveal the real culprit behind the racial tension that engulfed the country before Ops Lalang.

"Who is it that said they wanted to bathe the blood of the Chinese on a keris?" he asked.

This subsequently started a shouting match in the House before Deputy Speaker Ismail Mohamed Said adjourned the sitting for a lunch break.