Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2015 tabled in Dewan Rakyat

The Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2015 was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, which among others includes a provision that no person shall be arrested and detained solely for his 'political belief or political activity'.

The bill, tabled by Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explained 'political belief or political activity' as engaging in a lawful activity through the expression of an opinion or the pursuit of a course of action made according to the tenets of a political party that is at the relevent time registered under the Societies Act 1966.

The bill is an act to provide for the prevention of the commission or support of terrorist acts involving listed terrorist organisations in a foreign country or any part of a foreign country, and for the control of persons engaged in such acts and for related matters.

Whereas action has been and further action is threatened by a substantial body of persons both inside and outside Malaysia, which is prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part of the country, according to the Bill.

The bill also stated a police officer might, without a warrant, arrest any suspected person and should be referred to the Public Prosecutor for direction not later than seven days.

The case should later be brought to a magistrate within a 24-hour period to obtain a remand order for a period of 38 days.

The bill also stated the establishment of the Prevention of Terrorism Board which consists of chairman, deputy chairman and not less than three, and not more than six other members, appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The period of the appointment for board members is three years and eligible for re-appointment for aanother three-year period.

The home minister will appoint inquiry officers to inquire and report to the board on the suspected person, and, no police officer can be appointed as inquiry officer.

The board, if it is satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of the country's security, could issue a detention order for the person to a two-year period in a place of detention; or may issue a restriction order and the person shall be subject to police supervision for a five-year period.

On those detained under the restriction order, the board could instruct that the detainees be attached with an electronic monitoring device.

A section in the bill states that the board has the power to extend the detention order, restriction order or suspend the detention order.

The board can extend the detention order for a two-year period or five-year period for a restriction order.

Ahmad Zahid also tabled the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill 2015, which is an act to provide for special measures to deal with persons who engage in the commission or support of terrorist acts involving listed terrorist organisations in a foreign country or any part of a foreign

country and for related matters.

The bill includes a section for extra-territorial application, where the Act shall in relation to any person, whatever his nationality, have effect outside as well as within Malaysia and where an offence under this act is committed by any person in any place outside Malaysia, he may be dealt with in respect of such offence as if the offence was committed at any place within Malaysia.

For terrorist acts in a foreign country, the bill stated that the special measures under the act shall apply to any person who travels to Malaysia or travels to a foreign country from or through Malaysia, to engage in the commission or support of terrorist acts.

After Ahmad Zahid, his deputy, Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar tabled five bills for amendments.

The bills are the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012; Prevention of Crime Act 1959; Prison Act 1995; Penal Code; and Criminal Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No: 2) Act 2012.