Former A-G Gani defends Sosma, says it has served purpose
BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
Published: 3 November 2015 11:57 PM
Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail says Sosma has always been intended for offences against the state and terrorism offences, not to suppress political dissent. – The Malaysian Inider pic by Wan Asraf, November 3, 2015.
Former Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail tonight defended the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) – a law that he himself had a hand in drafting – saying that its necessity had been proven in the Lahad Datu intrusion case.
In his first public speaking engagement since his removal from his post in late July, Gani said there was nothing wrong with the law itself but added that there could be problems with its interpretation and implementation.
"The trouble with laws is the interpretation and implementation rather than the laws itself," he told a packed auditorium at a forum on the controversial law tonight.
"Sosma was enacted as a legal response to terrorism and threat to national security. It is a criminal justice system to deal with arrests, prosecution and trial."
Gani was speaking at a forum titled "Sosma – Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?", organised by the Malaysian Bar, that was held at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium at the Straits Trading Building in Kuala Lumpur.
He said terrorists and terror activities were part of a"special" category of offenses and justified a "special" laws like Sosma, which was what the legislation was originally intended for.
"Such offences are a special category and they justify a reason for special laws.
"Sosma was introduced to deal with terrorism and other security offences but it was never intended to suppress political dissent."
The former A-G also reminded that Sosma was first enacted with only two security offences in its first schedule; offences against the state and terrorism offences.
"Hence the original intention was clear. It was to deal with terrorists and terror activities."
He, however, skirted a question by PKR's Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, who asked Gani if he would rewrite any part of the Sosma if he had a chance, as the law has many defects leading to its abuse by the executive.
"I have always prided myself to be neither a politician nor a diplomat. Yes the A-G drafts the laws but these are all promoted by various agencies.
"Then it is sent to the Cabinet and finally to Parliament to be voted. So ultimately, it is Parliament that passed the law," Gani said. – November 3, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/former-a-g-gani-defends-sosma-says-it-has-served-purpose#sthash.w97IzEB3.dpuf
In his first public speaking engagement since his removal from his post in late July, Gani said there was nothing wrong with the law itself but added that there could be problems with its interpretation and implementation.
"The trouble with laws is the interpretation and implementation rather than the laws itself," he told a packed auditorium at a forum on the controversial law tonight.
"Sosma was enacted as a legal response to terrorism and threat to national security. It is a criminal justice system to deal with arrests, prosecution and trial."
Gani was speaking at a forum titled "Sosma – Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?", organised by the Malaysian Bar, that was held at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium at the Straits Trading Building in Kuala Lumpur.
He said terrorists and terror activities were part of a"special" category of offenses and justified a "special" laws like Sosma, which was what the legislation was originally intended for.
"Such offences are a special category and they justify a reason for special laws.
"Sosma was introduced to deal with terrorism and other security offences but it was never intended to suppress political dissent."
The former A-G also reminded that Sosma was first enacted with only two security offences in its first schedule; offences against the state and terrorism offences.
"Hence the original intention was clear. It was to deal with terrorists and terror activities."
He, however, skirted a question by PKR's Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, who asked Gani if he would rewrite any part of the Sosma if he had a chance, as the law has many defects leading to its abuse by the executive.
"I have always prided myself to be neither a politician nor a diplomat. Yes the A-G drafts the laws but these are all promoted by various agencies.
"Then it is sent to the Cabinet and finally to Parliament to be voted. So ultimately, it is Parliament that passed the law," Gani said. – November 3, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/former-a-g-gani-defends-sosma-says-it-has-served-purpose#sthash.w97IzEB3.dpuf
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