73 Sosma offences being reviewed for possible bail reform

The Home Ministry is reviewing 73 offences under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) as part of an ongoing reassessment, its minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

The review is in line with the cabinet's directive for the Home Ministry to re-examine the Act, he added.

"We are now scrutinising these 73 offences to determine which can be eligible for bail, effectively restoring that power to the courts.

“This is a significant shift for us and several key stakeholders,” he said during a breaking of fast gathering with the media in Putrajaya last night.

Committed to reform

The ministry is also focused on reviewing Section 30 of Sosma, which has been a point of contention in various stakeholder engagements.

"Section 30 states that once a suspect is detained beyond 28 days, they will remain in custody throughout court proceedings, including at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

"Through our engagement sessions, many have argued that this section warrants reconsideration," Saifuddin said.

The minister re-affirmed the government’s commitment to reforming the Act while safeguarding individual rights.

Previously, Saifuddin said the amendments to Sosma aim to strike a balance between national security and human rights while ensuring the Act remains effective in tackling serious, complex and organised crimes that threaten national security and public order.

Enacted in 2012, Sosma replaced the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) as the country’s primary legislation for handling security offences.

- Bernama

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