Emergency-related laws, Rela to be re-evaluated
Hazlan ZakariaPublished: Sep 15, 2011 2:34 PM | Updated: Sep 15, 2011 4:10 PM
Following the announcement by Premier Najib Abdul Razak of the lifting of three emergency proclamations that are still technically in effect, the laws and agencies formulated under the emergency must now be reevaluated.
Following the announcement by Premier Najib Abdul Razak of the lifting of three emergency proclamations that are still technically in effect, the laws and agencies formulated under the emergency must now be reevaluated.
Met by the press immediately after the announcement by the prime minister, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left) explained that laws related to the emergency like the Emergency Ordinance and the Restricted Residence Act will need to be reevaluated now that the emergency is going to be lifted.
“All those including agencies and organisations set up under the emergency like Rukun Tetangga and Rela must be relooked into,” he said.
This he said will be the focus of his ministry and also other ministries concerned, in order to actualise in further detail the announcements that the PM only touched on the surface today.
The PM also announced the formulation of two new acts to address to accompany the abolition of the Internal Security Act and others as well as the amendments to the Police Act to allow right of assembly and the Printing Presses and Publication Act to abolish the need for an annually renewed licence.
Asked about the new acts to be formulated in place of the soon to be abolished ISA, he said that the government will look at laws like the Patriot Act in the United States in formulating a new law for anti-terorism purposes.
Nevertheless, he stressed that this will be in the framework of balancing the need for security with the liberty of citizens.
Quizzed about the right of peaceable assembly that should now be guaranteed as per article 10 of the constitution and soon to be amended Police Act to curtail police powers to restrict it, he said that the right of assembly is guaranteed provided that there are no street demonstrations.
Asked if the press will now be more free with the one-off publication licence that would preclude annual fears of the Home Ministry denying them licences, Hishammuddin brushed aside the question, adding that the press now is already free, especially with the advent of alternative media.
Preempting opposition claims of success
He also preempted possible opposition claims of success, should they claim that the whole slew of reforms just announced by Najib was because of their pressure tactics.
“The PM announced this two years ago. The opposition can say or demand anything or even claim, but the question is have they delivered what they promised in the states they rule?
“They can claim but the rakyat can judge for themselves,” he told reporters when asked about possible opposition interpretation of the recently announced government reforms.
Met by the press immediately after the announcement by the prime minister, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left) explained that laws related to the emergency like the Emergency Ordinance and the Restricted Residence Act will need to be reevaluated now that the emergency is going to be lifted.“All those including agencies and organisations set up under the emergency like Rukun Tetangga and Rela must be relooked into,” he said.
This he said will be the focus of his ministry and also other ministries concerned, in order to actualise in further detail the announcements that the PM only touched on the surface today.
The PM also announced the formulation of two new acts to address to accompany the abolition of the Internal Security Act and others as well as the amendments to the Police Act to allow right of assembly and the Printing Presses and Publication Act to abolish the need for an annually renewed licence.
Asked about the new acts to be formulated in place of the soon to be abolished ISA, he said that the government will look at laws like the Patriot Act in the United States in formulating a new law for anti-terorism purposes.
Nevertheless, he stressed that this will be in the framework of balancing the need for security with the liberty of citizens.
Quizzed about the right of peaceable assembly that should now be guaranteed as per article 10 of the constitution and soon to be amended Police Act to curtail police powers to restrict it, he said that the right of assembly is guaranteed provided that there are no street demonstrations.
Asked if the press will now be more free with the one-off publication licence that would preclude annual fears of the Home Ministry denying them licences, Hishammuddin brushed aside the question, adding that the press now is already free, especially with the advent of alternative media.
Preempting opposition claims of success
He also preempted possible opposition claims of success, should they claim that the whole slew of reforms just announced by Najib was because of their pressure tactics.
“The PM announced this two years ago. The opposition can say or demand anything or even claim, but the question is have they delivered what they promised in the states they rule?
“They can claim but the rakyat can judge for themselves,” he told reporters when asked about possible opposition interpretation of the recently announced government reforms.
View Comments0