Police have no executive powers under PCA - Khalid

The police have no executive powers under the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) which was approved by Dewan Rakyat recently, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. He said the PCA was different from the Internal Security Act (ISA) described by some parties as draconian. "The significant difference is from the aspect of powers...actually the ISA vested absolute power on the executive while in the PCA, the full powers are with the judiciary and review board. "From the initial capture, first 24-hour arrest is by police, followed by 21 days remand ordered by a Magistrate and the next 38-day remand approved by the President of the Sessions Courts and thereafter the board, and if there are unsatisfactory matters, they can be brought to court," he said after a cheque presentation by the Kota Baru Residents Association (POKB) here on Tuesday. At the ceremony in Bukit Aman, Khalid received a cheque for RM10,500 from POKB advisor Datuk Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh to be handed over to Atiqah Mohd Rosdi, the widow of Sgt Zal Azri Abd Somad who was killed while on duty in Melaka on Sept 23. Khalid stressed that the most important thing was that the PCA is targetted organised crimes. He said information sessions with the people or with related parties would give a clear picture on both acts. The Prevention of Crime 2013 Bill which allows detention without trial was was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday. Opposition head, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a blog was reported to have alleged that PCA was draconian and went against the Constitution. Asked on the police's preparations for the Sungai Limau by-election, Khalid said an assessment team had been sent to check and evaluate the areas there. The Sungai Limau seat under the Jerai Parliamentary constituency fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak, former Kedah Menteri Besar on Sept 26.