KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told a press conference today at Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana, Putrajaya here today that the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) should be used for terrorists. He said that the SOSMA is for terrorists with now it is scaring the people.
The press conference was also attended by several leaders of the Barisan Nasional which is deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie and bank Umno chief Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah, a former UMNO Secretary-General Tan Sri Sanusi Junid and former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“They are not doing something that can be construed as sabotaging the government. Government is abusing the law. Government should respond by releasing them. Not detaining under SOSMA. The use SOSMA to hold both individuals is contrary to the spirit and purpose of the Act was passed by Parliament,” said Dr Mahathir.
“We insisted that the detention Matthias Chang and Khayr al-Din is a form of abuse of the legal process by the authorities clearly contradicts the purpose of this law is passed by Parliament. It restricts the rights and freedoms of individuals to take legal action in a country that upholds the constitution and the rule of law,” he said.
“The two must be released immediately and the authorities provide guarantees that no one else will be arrested under the Act only because state views, opinions and criticism and taking actions as allowed under the Federal Constitution. The government must release the two individuals, “he said when he asked about what should be done by the government at this time.
The Magistrate Court today charged Chang and Khairuddin with sabotaging the country’s banking and financial services. On
Sept 18, Khairuddin was arrested by the police about 7.30pm at his Mont Kiara residence, a few days before he was scheduled to meet Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in America.
On Sept 23, Khairuddin was re-arrested at the Kuala Lumpur High Court under SOSMA for acts of sabotage. He was rearrested under Section 124K and 124L of the Penal Code after being released from the previous charge under Section 124C of the Penal Code. Chang, meanwhile was detained on Oct 8 after visiting Khairuddin at the Dang Wangi police station.
