GEORGE TOWN, Nov 26 — The government’s decision to include “preventive measures” in a new law to combat terrorism has alarmed a legal group that said it feared such action could mean a return to detentions without trial, which could open the door to power abuse.
In a statement, Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen voiced concern over Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement today that the new anti-terrorism law will contain “preventive measures”.
“Instead of providing short cuts, the government should strengthen the police force properly and provide them with adequate resources, support and training to be a modern and civilised first world police force that rely on effective, innovative and modern investigation methods rather than preventive laws which can only lead to abuse of power and injustice,” he said.
The lawyer said he did not discount the seriousness of extremist and militant elements in Malaysia, but reminded Putrajaya that the impact of laws similar to the abolished Internal Security Act (ISA) or the Emergency Ordinance will have a serious impact on human rights and constitutional rights of a person to a fair trial and due process.
“While the safety and security of the public must be the paramount concern for the authorities, the solution is not in the reintroduction of oppressive and antiquated preventive laws like the ISA that provide for wide and arbitrary powers to detain suspects indefinitely without a fair trial,” he said.
Paulsen urged the government to refocus the police force’s Special Branch and other internal security apparatus to target genuine security threats like terrorism instead of being misused to suppress legitimate dissent and the opposition.
He called on Putrajaya to observe international policing norms where the police exercise their powers through a lawful process that is supported by evidence that must also stand in the court of law.
Earlier today, Ahmad Zahid told reporters that the new anti-terrorism laws will include preventive measures as existing laws like the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 and the Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Act (Poca) 2013 only deal with terrorism after an act is committed.
He reasoned that without preventive measures, the threat of IS and other militant groups will spread quickly in the Asean region.
Ahmad Zahid also brushed aside fears of the return of the abolished ISA that allows for detention without trial by stating that the government’s focus is to combat violence with the new law.
