Sosma review seeks to balance security, human rights: Saifuddin

Summary

• Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the review of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) is about balancing between national security and human rights.

• Saifuddin maintains that the law is still needed to deal with security threats.

• He adds that he would present a ministerial statement on Sosma’s review direction in Parliament next week.

The review of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) will consider balancing aspects of upholding national security and respecting human rights, said Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The review, he added, would focus on certain provisions such as Section 13, which touches on bailable and non-bailable offences.

“We will balance the duty to uphold national security and public order with respecting an individual’s human rights,” The Malay Mail reported him as saying today.

Saifuddin said this during a press conference after officiating the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s 20th anniversary celebrations at Karpal Singh Drive.

Yesterday, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had ordered the Home Ministry to review the law.

He said the cabinet has agreed in principle that the law needs some improvement and Saifuddin will elaborate on it when he briefs Parliament next week.

“The prime minister has asked for Sosma to be reviewed. Insya Allah the minister in charge will explain more about this in Parliament next week,” the communications minister was reported as saying.

Reviewing parts of Sosma’s application

On that note, Saifuddin said it was time for the government to review parts of Sosma and its application in specific cases.

“For example, it can be used in organised crime or extreme cases of gangsterism,” he said, adding this also applied to terrorism and violent incidents that threaten national security and public order.

However, Saifuddin maintained that Sosma is still relevant for such offences as they were not common crimes.

“So, it is justified for this law to be used but the cabinet believes that there are certain sections that need to be reviewed,” he added.

Saifuddin mentioned that the process of reviewing Sosma had been ongoing for the past two years.

“We have been conducting continuous engagement sessions on this review,” he said, adding that workshops and discussions had been held, involving experts and stakeholders.

“I will present a ministerial statement on Sosma’s review direction in Parliament next week,” he said.

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