The Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) (Amendment and Extension) 2013 will be enforced in the near future, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Ahmad Zahid said it had received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah on Oct 25 last year.

“The Act was read out for the first time in the Dewan Rakyat on Sept 25, 2013 and then for the second and third readings before being approved by the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 2, 2013,” he said in a speech at the launch of the ‘Putrajaya Security Dialogue’ today.

He said among the amendments in the PCA were its extensions to Sabah and Sarawak, length of detention period reduced from 71 to 60 days and Section 28A of the Crime Prevention Code to be adopted.

The PCA would also enforce the use of the Electronic Monitoring Device (EMD), setting up the Crime Prevention Board, witness protection, stricter surveillance signals, and a sunset clause, (the act can be reviewed every five years), Ahmad Zahid said.     

He added that the Act would be amended and widened after considering the anxiety of the public and the level of safety following the increase in serious crimes.

“This includes the fear over the widespread use of firearms, the incidence of murders using firearms, the territorial wars between gangs, drug distribution areas, protection money, prostitution and gambling syndicates,” he said.

He said the act would empower the Royal Malaysia Police to enforce the law and display their true might.

Ahmad Zahid said he also intended to publish the discussions on the Act in the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat for the public to know what really transpired.

“It was heatedly debated from 11.30am on Oct 2 until 12.50am the next day, with the majority supporting it, (115) versus 86 against it,” he said.

On the one-day dialogue which involved a four-man panel comprising deputy solicitor-general II, Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah; legal adviser at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Prof Emeritus Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, Bukit Aman legal deputy director, SAC Mazupi Abd Rahman and famed lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, while the moderator was former inspector-general of police Norian Mai.

- Bernama