Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar today said that the tabling of the DNA Bill at the ongoing Parliament sitting was not politically motivated.

He said the long overdue bill was important to facilitate police duties in solving criminal cases in future.

syed hamid albar putrajaya pc 310708 02 "It has nothing the do with the sodomy case involving PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim. The government drafted the bill as far back as 2001," he told reporters at Parliament's lobby after the bill was tabled for first reading Monday.

"There is no political motive," the minister told reporters.

"I think it is ridiculous that (the opposition) looks at everything as having a political motive."

Syed Hamid said the bill was all encompassing for cases under the Penal Code and anyone arrested or charged under the code would be subjected to DNA testing.

Besides the provision of mandatory DNA testing for suspects, the bill will also allow the setting up of a national DNA database, forensic DNA analysis, use of DNA profiles and for any matter related to DNA.

Critics have claimed that the government was pushing through the bill at the present parliamentary sitting to bolster a sodomy charge against Anwar.

So far Anwar has refused to give police a DNA swab in their probe into the sodomy claim made by a former aide.

He had said that the authorities might tamper with his DNA sample to implicate him.

Anwar was charged with sodomy early this month and his case will be heard on Sept 10 for a mention. Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

DNA databank

Earlier in the House, Syed Hamid has tabled the DNA Identification Bill for its first reading.

Under the new bill, a DNA databank by the name of "Forencic DNA Databank Malaysia" will be established.

The DNA Databank, it stated, should be under the management, control and supervision of the Head of DNA Databank.

The new Bill also consisted of these:

  • A crime scene index which shall contain DNA profiles and any information in relation thereto derived from an intimate sample or a non-intimate sample.

  • A suspected person's index which shall contain DNA profiles and any information in relation thereto derived from an intimate sample or a non-intimate sample taken from persons reasonably suspected of having committed an offence and includes suspects who have not been charged in any court for any offence.

  • A convicted offender's index which shall contain DNA profiles and any information in relation thereto derived from an intimate sample taken from persons convicted of any offence under any written law.

  • A detainee index which shall contain DNA profiles and any information in relation thereto derived from an intimate sample or a non-intimate sample taken from a detainee.

Under the proposed bill, a person who commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.

Take action against BN, EC told

azmin ali pc in parliament 010708 Meanwhile, on another matter, opposition MP Azmin Ali today demanded the Election Commission (EC) to take action against BN for failing to pay Elegant Advisory Sdn Bhd for election materials.

The Gombak PKR parliamentarian challenged the EC and its chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman to analyse the issue and take firm action against the BN if it was found to be responsible.

He also questioned the reasons behind the EC's reluctance to take action even after the court ordered Umno to pay a RM218 million in compensation.

"Aren't you (EC) brave enough to take action? I challenge Abdul Rashid to take action against BN," said Azmin.

Action against teacher insufficient

On another matter, Human Resource Minister S Subramaniam today cleared the air of confusion when some quarters had voiced their dissatisfaction against the transfer to a 'smart' school of a female History teacher who allegedly hurled racial slurs and other abuses at her Indian students last week.

Speaking in Parliament today, the minister said the move was not a disciplinary action as the investigation on the teacher is still in progress, he said

"The education ministry has assured us that her transfer was not a disciplinary action, but it was a move to protect her safety," he said, adding that the school was located near the teacher's residence.

He further stressed that it was in his obligation to clarify the move taken by the ministry as it would imply that it had not done anything to resolve this matter.

"The ministry will take a disciplinary action after the investigation on the teacher is done, and (if she was found guilty) it promised to take a stern action against her," said Subramaniam.

Last week, Deputy Minister in a Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany had proposed the teacher be sacked, however he who was also present at the press conference today said he would welcome any ministry's stern action against the teacher.