Use Sosma to fight terrorism, not as tool to abuse power, says MIC chief

SHAH ALAM: The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) should come into play for terrorism-related cases instead of being used arbitrarily, which leads to abuse of power, says Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran.

The MIC president said he hoped Sosma would be used for its original, intended purpose.

"This is not a political issue but it is about the basic rights of every citizen as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.

"We understand the constraints faced by the police but the use of Sosma should only apply to serious cases – terrorism, for example – and not arbitrarily on individuals who are suspected of being involved in a crime.

"There are various other laws such as the Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures) 1985, Prevention of Crime Act 1959 or Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015. Use these laws to prosecute based on the results of investigations," he said on Saturday (June 10) during his speech at the Educational Development and Future of Indians programme, organised by Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) held at the Shah Alam Convention Centre here on Saturday (June 10).

Also present at the event were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying, Mitra special task force committee chairman Datuk R. Ramanan, MIC deputy president Datuk M. Saravanan, Senator Datuk Dr Nelson Renganathan and National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Anthony Santiago.

Vigneswaran added that the fundamental rights of individuals and due process must be respected.

Protecting the right to a fair trial is just not about human rights but also to ensure our legal system is equal and fair for all, Vickneswaran said.

In December last year, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government had no intention of reviewing Sosma, which provides for preventive detention of up to 28 days.

Repealing Sosma was not among the pledges listed in Pakatan Harapan's GE15 election manifesto.