Beri tempoh masa untuk bentangkan pindaan Sosma, kata Ramkarpal

Datuk Ramkarpal Singh has urged the government to explain when the new legislation to amend the Security Instruction (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 will be presented in Parliament, as he believes it has been delayed for too long. The Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP's Legal Affairs Bureau chairman stated that Interior Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail earlier claimed that the amendment to Sosma is expected to be introduced in the Dewan Rakyat, but since then, there has been no further development.

Ramkarpal has called on the government to announce when the amendment will be presented, as the issue needs urgent attention. In July 9th, Saifuddin also mentioned that amending Sosma is being considered to strike a balance between national security, fairness principles, and safeguarding human rights before it is brought to the Cabinet and then presented in the Dewan Rakyat.

Former police chief of Penang Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay defended Sosma, stating that special legislation is needed to handle violent crime and premeditated offenses more effectively. Ayob believes that standard procedures under the criminal law are insufficient to deal with large-scale violent criminal operations and large numbers of suspects.

However, Ramkarpal reiterated his belief that Sosma has a problem as it does not provide judicial oversight of suspects' detention for up to 28 days. He also considers the provision that generally does not allow bail in Sosma cases as draconian and unjust (draconian). Currently, Sosma sets most offenses under the Act to be bail ineligible, except in specific cases involving women, minors, or individuals with health conditions.

Ramkarpal also claims that Sosma appears to be used against ordinary citizens and individuals associated with underground group activities, citing the example of a 16-year-old teenager in Kedah who was detained and allegedly shows possible misuse of the law.