The Home Ministry has recently said that a special committee set up to review controversial security laws will be given until October to present its findings.
The laws in question include the Sedition Act 1947, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA), the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (POCA), the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) and the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
This is a positive development, given that the committee has been in existence since June 2018.
I do hope however, that the Ministry will make the findings and recommendations of the committee public when they are delivered.
This is not only for the sake of transparency but also will allow the wider public to give feedback.
The Ministry should also present a comprehensive plan and timeline to repeal or the very least, amend the repressive aspects of those laws.
Moreover, the Federal Government should, as urged by Klang MP Charles Santiago, work to repeal or amend other oppressive and frequently abused laws such as the University and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) and National Security Council Act 2016 (NSC).
We should also not forget that the Pakatan Harapan manifesto has also committed to the abolition of the mandatory death sentence.
The New Malaysia will be judged not only by the economic performance of its government, but also how thoroughly and diligently it undertakes political reform.
NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD
PAKATAN HARAPAN YOUTH LEADER
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT YOUTH LEADER
SETIAWANGSA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
