MEDIA STATEMENT BY PROF DR P.RAMASAMY,
CHAIRMAN, URIMAI PARTY
Sosma: An archaic tool of oppression resurfaces in Penang
Arrests under Sosma
The Madani government has revived the use of the controversial Special Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), despite promises of reform. This was evident in Penang on November 27, 2024, when 11 individuals, mostly Indian men, were arrested during “Operation Cantas.”
The operation, conducted around 3 am, involved the Penang police criminal branch, assisted by the Bukit Aman crime division. The detainees, primarily residents of Perai, are being held under Sosma’s draconian provisions, allowing for a 28-day remand without trial for investigation.
Allegedly involved in illegal activities since 2020, their identities remain undisclosed.
However, reliable sources indicate that all are Indians, raising concerns about racial profiling and targeting.
A return to dark ages?
While the Barisan Nasional (BN) government notoriously wielded Sosma to silence dissent, the PH-led Madani coalition had fostered hopes of its obsolescence. The current reliance on Sosma contradicts these expectations.
Malaysia already possesses robust legal frameworks for charging and prosecuting criminals. Why then is there a need for an outdated and oppressive law like Sosma? The similarities between Sosma and the now-abolished Internal Security Act (ISA) cannot be ignored.
Both bypass fundamental legal rights, denying detainees due process. This reliance raises doubts about the competence of law enforcement, despite the Malaysian police force being composed of educated and skilled officers capable of collecting evidence and prosecuting within the standard legal framework.
The Perai’s Indian Community
Perai, with its high concentration of Indian voters (around 35%), played a pivotal role in supporting the PH coalition during the 2023 state elections. Yet, the arrests now cast a shadow over this relationship.
The silence of the Perai state assemblyman on these arrests signals tacit approval, disappointing the very community that propelled him to power. The Indian community has long been plagued by marginalization and systemic discrimination.
If those arrested have committed crimes, they must be tried under existing laws with evidence presented in court. Resorting to Sosma perpetuates the narrative of oppression and exacerbates distrust among marginalized groups.
Did Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution approve these Sosma detentions?
Is Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who champions himself as a global reformist, aware of this regressive use of power? The government’s promises of reform ring hollow as outdated laws like Sosma continue to target vulnerable communities.
Reform should mean abolishing laws that undermine human rights, not perpetuating their use under a different administration.
Call for Action
Urimai calls for justice for the 11 detainees and their families. If evidence of their crimes exists, let it be presented in court under proper legal procedures. If not, they must be released immediately.
The continued reliance on Sosma erodes trust in the justice system and pushes Malaysia further from the ideals of fairness and reform.
The police force must abandon archaic and inhumane practices. Sosma belongs in the dustbin of history, not in the hands of a reform-minded government.
