PCA can't be equated with ISA, says Khairy

The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) cannot be equated with the defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) because the PCA is aimed at organised criminals, a cabinet member said today.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said although he was not privy to the cabinet's discussion on the Bill, as he was out of the country on Monday, he agreed with its principles.

“I don't see the similarity between the Bill and the Internal Security Act. The PCA, by definition, is aimed at criminals whereas the ISA has wide-ranging powers,” Khairy told reporters at a sports conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Khairy said the  amendments should help the police curb crime, particularly organised crime in the country.

Lawyers and human rights groups have slammed the PCA amendment as draconian and unconstitutional, as it grants two years’ detention powers to the police, without judicial or ministerial review possibilities.

When this was pointed out to Khairy, the first-time minister declined comment, repeating again that he had been away in Indonesia for the past two days and didn’t see the fine print.

“I was not there at the cabinet meeting, I can’t comment,” he said, adding that maybe he would learn more at the next cabinet meeting on Friday.

The Malaysian Bar, the opposition and civil society groups have complained that they were not consulted on the amendments presented to Parliament.

They have always protested against any law that allowa prolonged detention without trial, arguing that it could be open to abuse.

The ISA and the Emergency Ordinance Act (1969) were both abolished under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s administration, but the police have since blamed the freed detainees for the rise in serious crimes this year.

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