Nur Jazlan: Sosma still needed to safeguard national security

JOHOR BARU: The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 is needed in Malaysia's fight against terrorism and to counter threats to national security, says Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed (pic).

The Deputy Home Minister said the 28-day detention period allowed by the Act had drawn flak from certain parties, but it was still needed to prevent threats.

"Sosma has drawn criticism from certain quarters that dispute the law on humanitarian grounds. But this law is very much needed for early prevention of events that could threaten national security.

"This is proven by the number of arrests police have made to prevent acts of terrorism in the country," he told reporters after attending Harian Metro's 26th anniversary celebration here on Saturday.

Nur Jazlan said that Sosma was tabled six years ago as a special crime prevention measure, based on existing laws such as the Penal Code to provide police the power to detain a suspect for a certain period of time.