KUALA LUMPUR: The latest development on the proposed improvements on the provisions of the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) is expected to be announced soon, says Ramkarpal Singh.
The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) said that engagement sessions for improvement purposes had been conducted in the last few months led by the Home Ministry.
"The Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) is also involved to assist in this matter.
"And of course, on the issue to improve Sosma, including in terms of bail, we are looking at it very closely.
"We will know the latest development in the nearest time," he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (May 22).
He was responding to a question raised by RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) who asked about the latest status of Sosma.
Rayer had asked the government to state whether it was prepared to allow bail for all offences under Sosma.
"I would like to take this opportunity to praise the deputy minister for holding engagement sessions, by going to the prisons in Penang, Alor Setar, Taiping and Sungai Buloh, to meet personally with the family members of those detained under Sosma.
"His efforts were well accepted by the public there," claimed Rayer.
Rayer also wanted to know what was the timeframe to make improvements for Sosma.
"I have to make this clear that as a lawyer, I have a personal interest in this as I have defended several people who were charged and detained under this law," he said.
"I know that Ramkarpal and his team are doing their best, but perhaps I would like to use this platform to appeal to the Home Minister to consider this request so that such initiatives can be expedited," he said.
Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) also threw his support to Rayer's idea as he also as a lawyer had represented the cases of those charged and detained under Sosma.
Previously, Saifuddin had drawn flak from critics, including fellow Pakatan Harapan leaders such as Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo, when he said there was no immediate need to review Sosma.
Pakatan had been a strong critic of the law when it was the Opposition.
