While the government claims that the controversial Prevention of Crime Act 2013 (Poca) has reduced crime rates, Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen says the government does not need such 'shortcuts' if police resources weren't wasted on political offences.

“ If the authorities were to re-prioritise resources currently being wasted for political offences like sedition and peaceful assemblies, I'm sure they can do much better in tackling serious and organised crimes instead of resorting to shortcut methods like preventive detention,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

He was asked to comment on Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's written parliamentary reply on Nov 17 in which the minister claimed that Poca had reduced serious and organised crimes by 15.5 percent.

“ This has been proven (based on) research on violent crimes (conducted) by the police for the 18 months before the implementation of Poca. After the law was enforced, (we found) a reduction of 15.5 percent (in serious crimes),” he said.

Prior to Poca's amendment in 2013, Zahid said both types of crimes had been on the rise.

The minister also said there have yet to be any arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 that came into force on Sept 1. The act allows for detention without trial similar to Poca.

Easily abused

Paulsen pointed out the problem with such provisions is that people will never know the truth which warrants such detentions because there is no trial, no due process and no evidence produced apart from the authorities' claims.

“ It is easy to make grand claims but as history has shown us, detention without trial is easily abuse and we simply cannot take the authorities' words at face value.

“ In any event, all suspects have a right to due process and a fair trial before being punished,” he noted.