Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The Malaysian government has introduced legislation in parliament to amend criminal laws that would allow the authorities to arrest and detain indefinitely any suspect without a court order. The rule is similar to what is already in place in China, where public security forces have the right to hold anyone up to three years without due cause.
The government is justifying the proposed toughening of security laws as necessary to curb a rise in violent crime in the past few months, including the recent murder in public by unknown assailants of a prominent former banker in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, which has alarmed the public.
Teo Nie Ching, an opposition member of parliament, said the new proposal appeared to be a "fundamental breach of human rights".
"It seems we are going back to the time of the ISA [Internal Security Act], even though it is called prevention of crime," Ms Teo said. The ISA was adopted after the country became independent in 1957 and was used to arrest dissidents and activists.
Under the proposed amendment, a Prevention of Crime Board made up of three members and headed by a judge would be able to issue a detention order for two years, which could be renewed for two years indefinitely.
The detention could be ordered if the board is satisfied it was "in the interest of public order, public security or prevention of crime".