KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Oct: The amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) which will replace the Internal Security Act (ISA) contradicts with the resolution to not restore the power of detention without trial.
Member of Parliament for Gombak, Mohamed Azmin Ali, said that the Attorney General had previously pointed out that efforts to revive the bill should be discussed in advance.
However, he said, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) failed to do so and instead continued with the second reading of the amendment to the bill at the House of Representatives session yesterday.
“I am bringing up this matter because it conflicts with the resolutions made by the Attorney General on August this year at a workshop with the MOHA at Sunway Hotel.
“The Attorney General clearly rejected any effort to restore detention without trial and insisted that it should be discussed in advance.
“This did not happen. Does the MOHA have a problem with the Bar? Has the bill been reviewed by the Attorney General?” he said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday evening.
He said, Article 4A of the Act states that power will be reinstated to bring back detention without trial for two years, but it contradicts with the previous statement by the Central Government.
He said, it is also against the Prime Minister’s pledge on 16 September 2011 where he proposed to repeal the ISA and the Emergency Ordinance (EO).
“Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised to no longer allow detention without trial however the bill contradicts with his promise,” he said.
He also deplored the action by the Central Government of refusing to make room in the debate for the bill and urged for it to be referred to a select committee in advance.
He said, the action may be done according to regulation 54 in which a bill can be submitted to a select committee before the second reading.
“I will continue to insist for this to be done to make room for a thorough debate to get information about the formulation of this important bill.
“PKR is committed to cooperate with the police to tackle crime, but we want this debate to be done thoroughly and done properly,” he said.
