KUALA LUMPUR – The government will review the necessity and feasibility of establishing a special court as part of improvements to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that this is to ensure that cases related to Sosma, which is a law introduced in 2012 to replace the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), do not go through prolonged trial delays.
Saifuddin explained that the proposed special court would be similar to the existing special courts for corruption, sexual crimes against children, human trafficking, environmental offences, and cyber-related cases.
“This special court will specifically handle Sosma cases to prevent issues related to bail and long waiting periods,” he said during a ministerial briefing on Sosma at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Before the briefing began, a 30-second, soundless video clip was presented to MPs to provide an understanding of how the law is applied in criminal cases.
However, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul reminded MPs that the video was for their viewing only and was not to be shared.
“This is the first time such a video has been shown, and it will set a precedent. Some of the visuals are quite disturbing. It is meant for MPs only and must not be disseminated,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said that besides the special court, the government will also review the list of offences categorised as non-bailable and those that allow bail at the court’s discretion, based on the severity of the offence.
“There are 73 offences under this act, and from now on, we will re-evaluate them. We will determine which offences should remain non-bailable and which should allow the court discretion to grant bail,” he said.
He also mentioned that a review will be conducted on Section 30 of Sosma to allow detainees to be granted bail while awaiting legal proceedings such as trial and appeal.
“At present, bail is entirely unavailable except for women, children under 18, and individuals who are seriously ill or infirm, subject to the court’s discretion,” he added.
During the briefing, Saifuddin also announced the formation of a special committee to refine the proposed amendments so they can be brought to Parliament as soon as possible.
“The sooner this special committee delivers its findings, the sooner we can table them in Parliament. We have a session in July, and that should be our timeline to demonstrate our commitment to continuously improving legal policies, regulations, and efforts to strengthen public safety and order,” he said.
However, he emphasised that the improvements to Sosma do not mean that the Madani government is taking a lax approach or underestimating the need for laws to combat threats from terrorism and organised crime, which still exist in the country. – February 19, 2025