Use of Sosma an Overreaction to a Non Situation

Think tank Political Studies for Change (KPRU) welcomes the assurance given by the police that Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) will not be abused during the the run up to the 13th General Election. The assurance is a proactive measure to quell any distrust by the public towards the police on the possibility of SOSMA being arbitrarily used. However, as well as providing assurance that SOSMA will not be abused, the police is highly recommended to take immediate and appropriate actions against perpetrators of political violence seen during and post election season.

This comes considering that SOSMA is intended to be used against matters that are a threat to parliamentary democracy. Considering that the definition to what constitutes to threat against parliamentary democracy is neither clear nor succinct, it opens the possibility of abuse. Malaysians are reminded of the arrests made in relation to the Lahad Datu intrusion which individuals were arrested under SOSMA for suspicions of having connections with the intrusion. What assurance does the police have for Malaysians and the opposition or its supporters will not be arrested under SOSMA on grounds of “suspicions for being a threat to parliamentary democracy” during this GE13?

A fair and just police is a police that protects the public at all cost. However, that role of the police in Malaysia is a perverted role. Instead of protecting the public, the police have issued a threat to all Malaysians that they will use the newly minted and widely controversial law of Sosma on Malaysians during the 13th General Election (GE 13) “to ensure the general election is not affected by incidents or security threats and be accused of being terrorist”?

The irony of this situation by the police comes when it warns individuals and non governmental bodies to not overstep the law but the police itself are overstepping the toes of Malaysians by indirectly accusing Malaysians of having intentions to disrupt the peace of this country.

The recent selective screening of the controversial movie Tanda Putera also raises the question on its weightage as influence during the GE13. Malaysians familiar with the tragedy of 13th May are also familiar of the conspiracies surrounding the cause of the tragedy. How will the police ensure that the selective screening of Tanda Putera will not fall into one of the conspiracy theories behind any unwarranted incidents during and post GE13?

There is a problem with wearing the badge with too much pride when the police asserts that SOSMA will not be abused during GE 13 when past records indicate the police have no experience or the know how to handle situations when faced with large crowds. On the other hand, the problem with threatening to enforce SOSMA during GE13 is that it gives a considerable amount of power and justification for the police to exercise their brute enforcement on Malaysians if, to say things went awry.

This is not to say that Malaysian does not appreciate or need the police. The police are responsible for ensuring peace and security within the boundaries of Malaysia. Malaysia will be a darker place without the police. The police have given their assurance that Sosma will not be abused but the question remains on what the police have done to quell the political violence that have been simmering in the days running up to GE13, particularly what have been alleged by Lembah Pantai Parliamentary seat candidate, Nurul Izzah and seen in Terengganu.

The recent political violence witnessed in Lembah Pantai is not an isolated event. It has spread to other states, in which a boy in Terengganu fell victim to political violence that almost cost him his life as reported in Sin Chew Daily today (i.e. 14 April 2013).

Malaysians not only needs assurances that SOSMA will not be abused as provided by the police but also an assurance and proof that the police is doing all that it can to combat political violence in these weeks running up to the Election day, particularly during the one month transition post Election Day.

Thus, KPRU opines that the police should rethink on the use of Sosma as it does not reflect the principles of democracy nor should it be used during a democratic process in times of peace.

Buku “Pendedahan di Parlimen” dengan Kata Pengantar oleh DS Anwar Ibrahim

 

Buku pertama Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU – Political Studies for Change) berjudul “Pendedahan di Parlimen: Dasar dan Cabaran Malaysia” kini diterbitkan dengan kata pengantar oleh Ketua Pembangkang Dewan Rakyat, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Buku ini disunting oleh Pengarah Eksekutif KPRU, Ooi Heng dan memberi tumpuan kepada topik-topik penting tatkala Malaysia berada di ambang perubahan.  

Sebagai sebuah badan pemikir dan penyelidikan, KPRU berharap kelahiran buku ini dapat memanjangkan wacana yang mengangkat dasar kepedulian rakyat.

Buku setebal 290 halaman ini berharga RM28 (tidak termasuk kos kiriman) dan merupakan penerbitan bersama KPRU dengan Strategic Information and Research Development Center (SIRD). Sesiapa yang berminat untuk membelinya sila emel Ooi Heng melalui ooiheng@gmail.com dengan menyatakan nama, nombor telefon bimbit, alamat dan bilangan tempahan.

 

**Petikan Kata Pengantar Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim**

Berbeza dengan sistem parlimen di India, Indonesia, United Kingdom dan Australia, ahli-ahli Parlimen di Malaysia tidak diperuntukkan dengan pegawai penyelidik. Justeru, penubuhan Kajian Politik Untuk Perubahan (KPRU) sebagai sebuah pasukan penyelidikan yang digerakkan oleh saudara Ooi Heng dan sekumpulan anak-anak muda yang komited dalam membantu urusan penyelidikan dan penyediaan maklumat sebagai dukungan terhadap peranan wakil-wakil rakyat pembangkang sewajarnya dihargai dan dimanfaatkan sebaiknya. Komitmen mereka sememangnya bererti dalam memudahcara tugas serta tanggungjawab seseorang wakil Parlimen yang secara umumnya berperanan untuk menggubal undang-undang dan juga dasar yang melibatkan kepentingan rakyat dan negara.

Parlimen seharusnya menjadi “gelanggang” rasmi di mana segala bentuk perbincangan, perbahasan dan persetujuan melibatkan dasar negara termasuk aliran keluar masuk wang awam dikawal selia secara telus dan terbuka. Dalam erti kata lain, Parlimen bukan sekadar platform untuk perbahasan dasar-dasar yang berkait dengan kepentingan rakyat, bahkan seharusnya ia bersifat luwes yakni berupaya berperanan sebagai pemantau yang menjadi penimbang tara kepada ketelusan pentadbiran kerajaan yang memerintah.

  

**Terjemahan Bahasa Inggeris Kata Pengantar**

Terjemahan nama buku –  ”The Parliament Exposed: Policies and Challenges of Malaysia”

Unlike the parliamentary system in India, Indonesia, United Kingdom and Australia, members of Parliament in Malaysia are not provided with research officer. Therefore, the establishment of Political Studies for Change (KPRU) as a research team that is driven by Ooi Heng and his group of young people committed to conducting research and providing information as a form of support to the opposition elected representatives should be appreciated and utilized properly. Their commitment is indeed meant to facilitate the task and responsibility of Parliament representative, whose role is to enact laws and policies affecting the national interest.

Parliament should be a “court” where all forms of formal discussion, debate and agreement involving national policy including flow in and out of public funds should be regulated in a transparent and open manner. In other words, Parliament is not just a platform for policy debate related to the interests of the people; it should even be flexible enough to act as a watchdog and as an arbitrator to supervise the transparency of government administration.

 

**Terjemahan Bahasa Cina Kata Pengantar**

Terjemahan nama buku – 《透析国会：国家政策与未来挑战》

有别于印度、印尼、英国与澳洲的国会制度，马来西亚的国会议员并没有获得研究员的分配。有鉴于此，政改研究所（KPRU）的成立——一支由王维兴所推动的研究团队，以及由一群年轻人献身协助并处理研究工作及提供信息与资料，以作为对反对党内人民代议士的支持——应被给予肯定以及充分地被善用。他们的付出是为了减轻一个国会议员在针对牵涉到国家与人民利益的法律和政策制定方面所扮演的角色和责任。

国会应作为一个正式的“球场”——任何有关国家政策的讨论、辩论和协议，包括公共资金的进出，都应以透明与公开的方式监管着。换句话说，国会不只是一个辩论攸关人民利益政策的平台，更应灵活且有能力扮演监察者的角色，以衡量政府在执政方面的透明度。