KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26- Proposed amendments to the Crime Prevention Act of 1959 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday, allows for detention without trial for the purpose of public order, public security or crime prevention.
Prevention of Crime (Amendments and Extension) Act 2013 was tabled for first reading in Parliament by Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The amendments allow for detention without criminal charge or trial, similar to that provided in the repealed Emergency Ordinance and the Internal Security Act.
The powers of detention will be given to a Prevention of Crime Board, established under proposed new sections 7B and 7C, which will determine the issuance of detention orders, subject to review by the High Court.
The board will comprise three members led by a chairman who is, has been, or is qualified to be a Federal Court, Court of Appeal or High Court judge. The board members will be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Following a proposed amendment to Section 9, inquiry reports are to be made to the board, instead of the home minister. The board may allow a person to be detained without criminal charge or trial for up to two years.
A proposed Section 19A under the Act also states the detention period as renewable for another two years in the interest of public order, public security or crime prevention.
The bill also allows the police to use electronic monitoring devices on a remanded person, upon release pending an inquiry.
Meanwhile, the home minister will be required to submit an annual report to Parliament of all activities of detention orders that year. Detention orders will also be reviewed every five years.
– BERNAMA
