KUALA LUMPUR: A DAP legislator today said the government should review the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
Syahredzan Johan (Pakatan Harapan-Bangi) said the government must determine whether to amend Sosma or to abolish it and replace it with another law to address security concerns.
"The law must be one that can balance the rights of detained people and the need to handle security issues," he said during the debate on the Sosma (Amendment) Bill in Dewan Rakyat.
Deputy Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said action would soon be taken to address the act.
"When I was (in the opposition), I said it (Sosma) was the most cruel act in Malaysia and needed to be abolished, not amended.
"However, I understand that discussions are ongoing and I hope that any preliminary actions will proceed."
The Sosma amendment aims to remove Section 19 in line with the amendments to Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 to empower the courts to convict an accused based on the uncorroborated evidence of child witnesses.
In 2023, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Sosma was necessary to protect the country's peace and security.