12/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 12, 2026 5 Over RM3m e-cigarette products seized, 18 held KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF), together with several enforcement agencies, seized various electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products worth RM3,040,406 and arrested 18 individuals. The arrests and seizure were carried out during the Integrated E-Cigarette Mega Operation conducted simultaneously in Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu on Tuesday. GOF Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the operation, which ran from 2pm to 6pm, involved 18 raids on premises identified as selling e-cigarettes in Kota Bharu and Bachok in Kelantan (seven locations); Kuala Terengganu and Jerteh in Terengganu (three locations) and Kuantan in Pahang (eight locations). “In the operation, 157 officers and personnel, along with 100 officers from the Health Ministry, 59 officers from local authorities and 25 officers from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) carried out inspections at the premises concerned. “A total of 193.53 litres of vape liquid in various flavours, 10,745 units of e-cigarette devices and 1,287 units of accessories were seized, while 18 local men were detained for further investigation by the Health Ministry, local authorities and IRB,” he said in a statement yesterday. He added that the enforcement action was carried out under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) as well as subsidiary by-laws on trade and industrial licensing. “The Healthy Ministry and local authorities have issued fines and compounds totalling RM145,250 involving offences in all three states. “The GOF will continue to work with relevant agencies to curb the sale of electronic cigarettes to protect public health.” – Bernama Call for patience in Orang Asli probe PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Orang Asli Development has urged all parties to allow police to carry out investigations into the detention of 21 Orang Asli linked to an alleged land encroachment incident in Kampung Orang Asli Jemeri in Rompin, Pahang on Monday. The department said it appreciated the cooperation of police in releasing 17 individuals and respected the ongoing probe. “We urge all parties to give police the space and time to conduct a fair, transparent investigation in accordance with the law.” It added that it had been in contact with police since the case began to seek the release of those detained. “This includes obtaining updates on the case while paying close attention to the welfare and condition of the individuals involved.” The department also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the interests of the Orang Asli community. “This includes monitoring developments in the case, providing appropriate support and ensuring the welfare of the community continues to be prioritised, in line with the law and principles of social justice.” – Bernama

Legal veterans weigh in on proposed Sosma review

PETALING JAYA: The government’s plan to review the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) has sparked fresh debate over whether political will exists to deliver meaningful reform or even repeal the controversial law. Former Malaysia Bar president Tan Sri Salim Bashir said while Sosma, enacted in 2012 to tackle serious threats to national security and public order, has been defended as necessary, it remains a “draconian” law that erodes the right to a fair trial and undermines the rule of law. He added that Sosma bypasses crucial safeguards in the Criminal Procedure Code, the Evidence Act 1950 and other legislation. “Among its most troubling provisions are Section 13, which bars bail; Section 4 which allows detention of up to 28 days without early judicial oversight and Section 17 which relaxes strict evidentiary requirements.” He also criticised the law’s use of protected witnesses, limitations on cross-examination and weaker protections for confessions. “There must be political will to repeal Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com o M’sia already has sufficient laws to address security threats: Expert

for up to 48 hours as a direct conflict with Article 5 of the Federal Constitution. “It shows how Sosma structurally permits executive discretion to override fundamental liberties.” Kokila also said Malaysia’s existing criminal justice framework already provides sufficient tools to tackle serious and complex offences, including national security cases, without exceptional laws that concentrate power in the executive. “From a rule-of-law perspective, national security cannot justify measures that systematically erode fundamental liberties, as this ultimately weakens democratic governance.” She said if retained, Sosma should be a measure of last resort, with clear limits, early judicial oversight and special safeguards for minors. She also highlighted Section 14, which permits anonymous witness testimony, as a priority for reform. “Witness protection is important, but such measures must be tightly controlled and reserved for exceptional circumstances. “Courts should provide detailed, reasoned findings on the necessity of anonymous testimony and the accused should have meaningful opportunities to challenge its credibility and reliability.” Kokila added that strengthening the procedural safeguards would help balance the state’s security interests with individual rights and restore public confidence in the justice system.

Sosma, as Malaysia already has sufficient laws under the Penal Code, Prevention of Terrorism Act and Prevention of Crime Act to deal with security threats, provided the laws are properly coordinated and enforced.” While welcoming the government’s review, including a proposed amendment to Section 13 on bail, Salim emphasised that courts must retain full discretion over bail decisions. “Any move that limits the court’s powers undermines the separation of powers. National security is important, but it must align with constitutional guarantees of a fair trial and the rule of law.” Former Selangor Bar chairman Kokila Vaani Vadiveloo said Sosma contains systemic flaws that allow prolonged detention without early judicial scrutiny, restricts access to bail and limits transparency. She also criticised the lack of regular parliamentary reporting on Sosma’s use and minimal judicial oversight during detention, which weakens the separation of powers and creates conditions for misuse. “If left unaddressed, the current trajectory risks normalising extraordinary security powers in ordinary or borderline cases, lowering the threshold for detention without trial and gradually eroding constitutional safeguards. “Over time, this could erode public trust, chill civil liberties and undermine the rule of law.” She singled out Section 5, which allows police to delay a detainee’s access to a lawyer

SEIZED SPIRITS ... Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad (left) at a press conference showing bottles of liquor confiscated during a recent raid. – BERNAMAPIC

MCMC takes down illegal communications network syndicate KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has busted another syndicate operation

Regulations 2000, offenders may be fined up to RM300,000, or imprisoned for up to three years, or both.” MCMC emphasised that it will not compromise on any misuse of communications networks by irresponsible syndicates, adding that technical monitoring and enforcement efforts would continue to be intensified to protect the public and ensure security and reliability of the national communications network. – Bernama

“The case is being investigated under Section 239(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and Regulation 16(1)(b) of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000. “For offences under Section 239 of Act 588, an individual may be fined up to RM1 million, or imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. “For offences under Regulation 16 of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards)

MCMC added that information obtained also indicated that the individual involved had been recruited to operate the fake BTS device through a job offer with daily pay, a tactic used by syndicates to expand operations without exposing the actual structure of their network. The case confirmed the existence of syndicates targeting device users in public areas, heightening the risk of fraud and threatening the integrity of the national telecommunications system.

dissemination of fake SMS texts. “In a joint operation conducted with telecommunications service providers, enforcement officers identified an individual and a vehicle used as a platform to transmit fake BTS signals. “Checks at the location confirmed the use of unapproved communication devices capable of intercepting legitimate networks and transmitting fake SMS directly to private devices in the surrounding area.”

involving the transmission of fake base transceiver stations (BTS) in an operation around Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru. It said the operation was carried out following intelligence received as well as technical monitoring and network analysis, which detected patterns of telecommunications network interception and the