POTA: Precautionary action vital before it is too late

The tabling of the Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2015 (POTA) is seen as timely, following the looming terrorist threat in the country lately.

The bill was passed without any amendments after 12 hours of debate in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday. It is a wise move by the government to protect the security of the people and nation.

POTA is unlike the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 as the executive powers of the minister will be taken over by a board appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In short, POTA aims to combat terrorism in the country following the seriousness of the terrorism threat of violence triggered by militant groups, including the so-called IS.

The fact is the threat of terrorism is now indisputable.

On Sunday, for example, the police arrested a group of 17 suspected terrorists associated with IS, who were planning to kidnap VIPs, attack strategic locations and subsequently form an IS regime in Malaysia.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, in disclosing the matter said the 17 suspects were nabbed around Kuala Lumpur and Kedah while they were conducting a secret meeting to plan the attacks in the Klang Valley.

On Monday, another Malaysian was arrested at the Padang Besar railway station in Perlis. This brings to 93, the total number of Malaysians nabbed on suspicion of involvement with militant groups since February 2013.

In supporting the bill, Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said: "It is pointless to be regretful later.

"If you take preventive action, only after the problem had manifested, inspite of knowing the potential risk, then you are not a wise leader."

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government proposed the law to combat terrorism in the country as in recent years, some Malaysians were found to have been involved in such activities abroad.

"POTA does not empower the minister to implement the law and the government assures that there will be no political interference," he said of the bill recently passed in the Dewan Rakyat, in a question-and-answer session while meeting Malaysians in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday night.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the bill did not deny various rights of those detained under the law, and it notified the reasons for the arrest and gave the right of the individual to meet next-of-kin and seek counsel of their choice.

"Rest assured, the bill takes into acccount that human rights are given full consideration," he said when tabling the bill.

He said POTA was not the same as the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 as the executive powers of the minister would be taken over by a board appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The board should have legal qualifications and experience of at least 15 years in the legal field.

"Detention of 60 days is made by the police under the ISA whilst under POTA, 60 days detention is made through court process," said Wan Junaidi.

Therefore, the arguments saying that the ISA is similar to POTA are altogether unfounded.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Youth Council president Mua'mar Ghadafi Jamal Jamaludin said the law to address the threat of terrorism was necessary and was supported by all parties as it was based on precautionary principle of taking protective action before the occurrence of any damage.

The IS threat is not an illusion, and its influence is not only confined to Middle East countries, as proof of its existence has already emerged in Southeast Asia, and Malaysians are also involved.