The repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) has impacted the fight
against militant activities, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan
Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said without the ISA, which allowed for the detention of someone
without trial, it was difficult for the security forces to take
appropriate action against suspected militants.
Under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or SOSMA, which
replaced the ISA, individuals can only be remanded for 28 days and have
to be charged in court after this period.
"And only after they have been convicted by the court, can the individuals involved be jailed.
"But in the movement (militancy), it is not easy to provide proof that
is acceptable to the court," Wan Junaidi told Dewan Negara in a reply to
Senator Noriah Mahat.
Noriah wanted to know the reason for the existence of militant groups in
this country and the holistic approach taken by the government with the
cooperation of other countries in stemming the militancy threat.
Wan Junaidi noted that 12 Malaysians had been charged in court for militant activities.
"Eight were released due to lack of evidence. Only four cases are still on trial.
"So, this is among the effects of the abolishment of the much-feared ISA
but unfortunately, our country is under threat without the ISA," he
said.
Wan Junaidi said among the other factors that led Malaysians to become
militants were the desire to help friends fight against what was
purportedly for the sake of Islam.
He said there was also the wish to die as martyrs and the believe that
involvement in such militant activities was the easiest and fastest way
to go to heaven.
He said the authorities arrested 108 individuals of different
nationalities since 2010 for their involvement in militant activities.
He said various measures had been taken through the police in curbing
such activities, including investigating the activities of groups that
aroused suspicion and monitoring of individuals who had been involved in
militant groups before.
The deputy minister said the ministry also conducted a series of
rehabilitation programmes for the detainees and their family members,
besides establishing close cooperation and exchange of intelligence
information with foreign security agencies, especially in Asean
countries.
To a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Dr Firdaus Abdullah on
whether the ISA should be brought back, he said as the Act had already
been abolished, the government should move forward by taking various
initiatives to stem militant activities.
"We have to live with the current situation and the existing law. What
is left for us to do is to improve our intelligence personnel and raise
further their capabilities, besides enhancing cooperation with foreign
intelligence agencies," he said.
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