KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) does not apply to acts of terrorism alone and has a wide definition, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said today.

“Sosma is not for terrorism alone. It can also apply for anything that disturbs national security and sovereignty,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He was commenting on the detention of Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah under Sosma, where she can be held up to 28 days without trial.

Maria was arrested by police on November 18 and is reportedly being held in solitary confinement.

Advertisement

“It can also be used for actions threatening parliamentary democracy, or even crime,” Nur Jazlan said.

He also refused to explicitly state if the decision to place Maria under Sosma was made by the Home Ministry or police.

“The police handle operational issues. We handle the policy matters, to ensure the police are able to carry out investigations,” he said.

Advertisement

He also did not state whether Maria was being detained under Sosma over allegations that Bersih had received foreign funding and was part of a plot to topple the government, citing sub judice.