PETALING JAYA: The Home Affairs Ministry must immediately release minors who have been detained under various preventive laws, said Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
The human rights group said there were 142 minors detained without trial under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) and another 17 who are detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), as reported in 2017.
They said that countless more were subjected to house arrest under Poca or Sosma, and some had Electronic Monitoring Devices (EMD) attached to their bodies.
“If there are legitimate allegations against these individuals, they should be charged in court in accordance to the Criminal Procedure Code or Child Act 2001.
"They should not be subjected to detention without trial or arbitrary house arrest orders,” its Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy (pic) said in a statement on Tuesday (May 22).
Sevan had welcomed the stance adopted by the new Minister for Home Affairs, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, to review draconian laws and the need for engagement with civil society groups.
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