The Dewan Rakyat yesterday passed the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (POTA) at policy stage, just as authorities announced the arrests of 17 people who were planning terror strikes in the country.
The Bill underwent heated debate that extended to 10 hours.
It saw Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers defending the necessity of preventive measures to deal with the “extraordinary” threats posed by terror entities such as the Islamic State (IS).
Police stations and army camps were believed to be among the targets of 17 individuals who were detained by police yesterday. Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the objective was believed to be to obtain firearms.Opposition lawmakers, however, argued that some provisions in the Bill were against human rights and civil liberties.
He said the individuals, aged 14 to 44, were also suspected to be planning to kidnap several high profile individuals. “They were also planning to make bombs as detailed notes were found which were obtained from Imam Samudera of Indonesia,” he said when winding up the debate on the Bill on the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (POTA) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said among those detained was a former member of Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, a former ISA detainee and those who had undergone military training in Afghanistan and Sulawesi.
He said two of the detainees were soldiers, two students, one security guard and two wiremen.”This is a real threat and preventive measures must be carried out,” he said.
I would like to contest their 'human rights' and 'civil liberties' by asking a simple question - do we have to wait some bombs explode and people perish in attacks around the country before agreeing to haul up the attackers?
Are we ready for another Kenya incident (pic above) before admitting to the need of such a preventive law?
The Bill will allow those involved or commissioned to carry out terrorist acts to be detained for years and have their movements restricted.