The government deferred amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) after the BN Backbenchers’ Council (BNBCC) expressed "concern", Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar said.

"I heard the BNBBC debate and I met with them on their concerns (after the debate). They don’t feel very happy about the bill.

"We have to listened to concerns from all sides. Their concerns must be taken into account. I have discussed with the minister and the minister has agreed to defer the amendment,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The Santubong MP explained that the amendment bill will be referred back to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to highlight the issues raised by BNBBC.

"I will discuss the bill again with the ministry and it will be brought back to the AG. We will highlight the points brought up by BNBBC to be taken into account,” Wan Junaidi said.

Wan Junaidi clarified the the MPs were mostly concerned over excessive police powers.

"It is on the question (of) investigation because CPC is a procedure it is not absolute law. What they don’t want is the police to have absolute power in so many things, so we have to look into it.

"You can say that, (they) fear that too much power (is) given to the police," he added.

Wan Junaidi also said the Evidence Act was similarly pulled back because it is "consequential" to the CPC.

The CPC and the Evidence Act were deferred today after a heated debate took place in the Dewan Rakyat.

There was bi-partisan opposition to the bill including by BN MPs Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Azalina Othman (BN-Pengerang).

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