KUALA LUMPUR: There should be open discussions on the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 to allow the government to decide on the law, says Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
The Dewan Rakyat Speaker made the call following his observations during recent debates on Sosma in Dewan Rakyat, including the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on the matters.
"What was raised by both sides carries water.
"Currently, Sosma is only brought up for debates during Parliament proceedings, with MPs having limited time to debate.
"It must involve everybody, not only MPs," he told reporters after attending a dialogue session with the Malaysian Bar on Wednesday. (Dec 10)
He said that open discussion from various segments of society would allow the government to make better decisions on Sosma.
"I am encouraging open discussions.
"Whatever decision on Sosma will depend on what the stakeholders want, be it better enforcement of the law or its abolishment," he added.
He cited a long-standing issue involving the citizenship of children born to Malaysian mothers abroad as an example where public discourse had led to amendments to the law.
Last Thursday (Dec 4), the PSSC on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reforms proposed eight recommendations to amend Sosma.
Among them was a review of the 28-day detention period and the definition of security offences, terrorism-related crimes and organised crime under Sosma.
Since its implementation, Sosma has drawn criticism from several quarters, including calls for its abolition.
On Wednesday (Dec 10), in a Facebook post, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said calls to abolish preventive laws such as Sosma should be rejected as they infringed on human rights.
Ayob said that a balance must be struck between human rights and the need to maintain national peace and security.
