The police should not abuse the Emergency Ordinance, which was originally introduced in 1969 to counter the crisis endangering national security, against peddlers of pornographic VCDs.

DAP publicity bureau secretary Gobind Singh Deo said today the police should deal with the matter using the Penal Code instead of invoking the ordinance, which allows for detention without trial.

Gobind was reacting to a statement by Acting CID director Ramly Yussuf yesterday who said that anyone threatening an enforcement officer, whether from the police force, local council or Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, would be arrested under Section 3 (1) of the emergency law.

"This is the first time we are using such laws as we have had enough. Anyone, especially the tontos (lookouts) who threaten enforcement officers with harm, if caught, will be sent to the Simpang Renggam detention centre," Ramly was quoted by the Star .

Ramly said this after several enforcement officers received death threats following the authorities' decision to crackdown on peddlers of pornographic VCDs.

Even the Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyuddin Yassin received a letter with a knife warning him against the crackdown.

However, Gobind argued that such wrongdoers can be dealt with under Section 189 of the Penal Code.

He added that the Penal Code punishes those threatening any public servants to a jail term up to two years and/or a fine.

'Inhumane measures'

Gobind, who is a lawyer, said while his party does not condone any measures of threat, the country's laws should not be misused.

"There is absolutely no need to resort to inhumane measures such as detention without trial in situations where public officers are threatened," said Gobind.

He added that Section 3(1) of the Emergency Ordinance provided for the arrest and detention of persons "acting in any manner prejudicial to public order ... for the suppression of violence or the prevention of crimes involving violence".

"Clearly the use of the ordinance could not have been intended for the threatening of enforcement officers," said Gobind.

The emergency law was among a series of ordinances passed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong following the declaration of emergency as a result of the May 13, 1969 racial clashes.

Its primary aim was to secure public order, suppress violence and prevent crimes.