LETTER | Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) welcomes the stance adopted by the new Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on reviewing draconian laws and the acknowledgement for the need for engagement with civil societies.

While the promises for consultation and review of draconian law is a much appreciated after decades of repression, Suaram would like to remind the minister that there are urgent matters which requires his immediate intervention.

As reported in 2017, there are currently 142 minors detained without trial under Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), 17 minors detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and countless more subjected to house arrest under both laws with electronic monitoring devices (EMD) attached.

There are also cases of injustice such as those of Siti Noor Aishah where she had served her sentence for the Penal Code offences she was found guilty of, but now subjected to house arrest under Poca.

If there are legitimate allegations against these individuals, they should be charged in court in accordance to the Criminal Procedure Code or Child Act 2001 and not subjected to detention without trial or arbitrary house arrest orders.

Suaram calls for Muhyiddin to intervene on these cases and ensure that minors and those unjustly arrested and detained are released immediately.

SEVAN DORAISAMY is the executive director of Suaram.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.