LAHAD DATU - More than 50 people have been arrested in Sabah under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) for allegedly being connected to the Sulu militants here, authorities said today.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said today that the suspects, which include women, were also arrested under the Penal Code.
“These arrests are necessary,” Ismail told reporters here today.
Three terror suspects were detained in Kuala Lumpur last month under SOSMA, a controversial law that human rights lawyers have called unconstitutional as it allows evidence that does not follow provisions in the Evidence Act.
Yazid Sufaat, 49, was charged last month in Kuala Lumpur with promoting violence to intimidate the public in Syria, while Halimah Hussein, 52, was charged with abetting Yazid in the offence.
Ismail said today that the suspects in Sabah were detained outside the areas of the security forces’ operations, which are focused on Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu here.
The top cop, however, declined to reveal further details about the suspects.
The Philippine government has asked Malaysia to ensure “humane treatment” of the Filipinos who were detained in connection with the Sulu conflict.
Manila has also requested that the Philippine humanitarian team here be given full access to the detainees.
Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, who was at today’s press conference with Ismail, said that there has been no signs of surrender from the Sulu militants.
The security forces are hunting down the Sulu gunmen after some 200 followers of the Sulu sultanate invaded Kampung Tanduo here on February 9 to reclaim Sabah, citing historical records dating back to the 17th century.
The authorities said yesterday that 52 Sulu militants have been gunned down since last Friday’s shooting, raising the death toll to 60, including eight Malaysian policemen.
The military also launched air strikes at Kampung Tanduo last Tuesday in an effort to flush out the Sulu gunmen, an operation that Zulkifeli said was not meant to kill, but to enable the security forces to move in without resistance.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that the security forces would continue hunting down the Sulu gunmen until they surrendered or were eliminated.
The Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill was passed last June, officially replacing the Internal Security Act (ISA) and removing the government’s option to detain without trial.
Under the ISA, an individual believed to have committed a security offence can be detained for up to two years without trial, on orders from the home minister.
But the new Act states in Section 12 that “all security offences shall be tried by the High Court”.
The assault against intruders in Lahad Datu, Sabah was launched after efforts to avoid bloodshed was rejected proves that the government practises the ‘wasatiyyah’ (moderation) concept.
ReplyDeleteDean of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Faculty, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Prof Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Ab Majid said the government offensive followed the killing of two police commandos.
ReplyDelete“We didn’t want to kill them, but unfortunately they started killing and we had to retaliate,” he told
ReplyDeleteCommenting on the government stand rejecting a ceasefire until the intruders surrender unconditionally, Mahmood Zuhdi said that it was appropriate and not against the law.
ReplyDelete“Its not against UN’s policy. We don’t necessarily have to follow what Ban said as he was talking about general policy. It doesn’t mean we reject dialogue but let the negotiations be held in a more suitable condition.”
ReplyDeleteExtremism in Malaysia comes in the form of faith and prayers, food and beverage services; family, finance; politics and the government.
ReplyDeleteMahmood Zuhdi suggested that indepth studies be conducted to look at challenges faced by the ‘wasatiyyah’ concept as extremism will only hinder government efforts.
ReplyDeleteThe ‘wasatiyyah’ approach should be really simple in determining any agenda to ensure that it can be understood by all to avoid prejudice to the ‘wasatiyyah’ concept.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we detain Najib for two years without any charges or trial, see how he likes that?
ReplyDeleteKawasan Keselamatan Khas sepanjang 1,400 kilometer di pantai timur Sabah akan dinamakan sebagai Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), kata Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman. Beliau berkata nama ESSCOM itu telah dipersetujui oleh Jawatankuasa Kerja Keselamatan Negeri Sabah (JKKN).
ReplyDelete"Penggunaan nama ESSCOM dipersetujui oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan perincian butiran lanjut mengenai hal ini akan diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri nanti," katanya.
ReplyDeleteMusa, semasa mengadakan persidangan video dengan Najib di Putrajaya hari ini, berkata rakyat menyambut baik pengumuman perdana menteri mengenai Kawasan Keselamatan Khas dari Kudat ke Tawau.
ReplyDeleteSelain itu, lima batalion tambahan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) akan ditempatkan di lokasi strategik sepanjang kawasan itu dengan pusat kawalannya di Lahad Datu.
ReplyDelete"Saya yakin, langkah ini akan meningkatkan lagi keyakinan rakyat, pelabur dan pelancong terhadap tahap keselamatan khususnya di kawasan pantai timur Sabah," katanya.