08/04/2026

WEDNESDAY | APR 8, 2026

5 Call for moratorium on detention law

o Authorities know right thing to do but lack will to do it, says NGO adviser on Sosma

Daughter of Daim Zainuddin charged KUALA LUMPUR: The daughter of the late former Finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin was charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with failing to declare her shareholdings in five companies in 2023. Asnida Abdul Daim, 65, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to her before judge Rosli Ahmad. She is alleged to have intentionally provided a written sworn statement that did not comply with the terms of a notice issued under Section 36(1)(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 dated Nov 8, 2023. The notice was served to Asnida on Nov 14, 2023 for failing to declare her shareholdings as required. The shares involved Amiraz Sdn Bhd, Arida Farms Sdn Bhd, Kangkung Catering Sdn Bhd, Transgrade Sdn Bhd and Gajah3 Foods Sdn Bhd. The charge, under Section 36(2) of the Act, carries up to five years’ jail and a maximum fine of RM100,000, if convicted. DPP Mahadi Abdul Jumaat proposed bail at RM100,000 in one surety and asked for Asnida’s passport to be handed over to the court. Her lawyer Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar applied for a lower bail of around RM15,000 and opposed the additional condition. Rosli set bail at RM50,000 in one surety, ordered Asnida to surrender her passport and fixed May 21 for case mention. In a related development, the Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued arrest warrants against three individuals, including Daim’s two sons, for failing to comply with MACC notices to appear in court. Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan allowed an application by Mahadi for warrants to be issued against Muhammed Amir Zainuddin, 31, Muhammed Amin Zainuddin, 28, and businesswoman Josephine Premla. “I am satisfied that the named individuals had knowledge of the notices issued by the MACC but still failed to present themselves.” The MACC said it would take firm action, including seeking a Red Notice, against the men for failing to appear despite three notices being issued. Josephine also failed to appear without reasonable excuse despite being directed to do so by the MACC. – Bernama without top-level intervention, reforms risk remaining largely symbolic rather than substantive. task force,” stressed Tan, highlighting a persistent lack of independent accountability. Panellists identified political will as the main barrier to reform, with Sevan surmising that authorities know the right thing to do but lack the will to do it. The panel also pointed out internal disagreements, entrenched bureaucracy as well as a lack of a coordinated government strategy as contributing factors that continue to stall meaningful change, despite consultations and legislative promises. The activists issued a direct appeal to the nation’s leadership. “Sosma is a broken vehicle, yet authorities continue to use it. “We urge Anwar to impose an immediate moratorium on its use until the promised amendments are enacted,” the panel concluded, underscoring frustration that

Assembly Act 2012 are often used against organisers who complied fully with notification requirements. “These investigations function as tools of intimidation. “We cannot see the government taking serious efforts to improve foreign worker recruitment,” she said, adding that authorities often remain unresponsive to cases of abuse and trafficking. Despite the government’s shortcomings, a panellist also pointed out positive developments, such as steps towards abolishing the mandatory death penalty. However, the report also highlighted that oversight of police misconduct remains limited with investigative bodies such as the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCC), while the police integrity unit operates without transparency and serious cases often remain under police-led task forces. “The primary investigative body should have been IPCC, not a police

speech,” she stressed, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had promised in 2023 that criticism would not trigger sedition investigations. Panellists at the forum painted a picture of a government that engages civil society but fails to follow through with substantive reforms. “Now you get some attention, but no progress at all,” said the NGO’s adviser Sevan Doraisamy, describing a concerning disconnect between promises and practical implementation. Although legislative amendments to Sosma and other laws have been proposed, authorities continue to exercise broad powers, such as detentions under problematic procedures. Human rights defenders reported arrests even in front of their offices, illustrating the law’s ongoing misuse while freedom of assembly remains limited in application. Tan noted that Section 9(5) investigations under the Peaceful

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

monitoring coordinator Jernell Tan explained that criticism of political leaders is a leading trigger for sedition investigations. “Of 97 sedition-related inquiries in 2025, only three led to charges,” she said, pointing to an arbitrary application of the law. Public demonstrations, symbolic acts such as effigy-wrapping, and poster-burning have increasingly been treated as criminal offences under the Sedition Act 1948. While authorities have occasionally consolidated multiple cases for media statements, the precise nature of the criticisms often remains undisclosed. “Investigations against public officials should respect international standards, criticism without incitement should be protected

KUALA LUMPUR: Civil society watchdog Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has urged Putrajaya to impose an immediate moratorium on the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), claiming that the law continues to be misused despite ongoing reform pledges. The call comes as scrutiny intensifies over Malaysia’s human rights record, particularly on freedom of expression, public assembly and police accountability. The launch of its Malaysia Human Rights Report 2025 yesterday highlighted troubling trends in the application of sedition laws. Its documentation and

Human rights report shows cracks in justice system KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands have been arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) since 2012, yet up to nearly a third were later released without charge, exposing deep and persistent cracks in the country’s justice system.

According to the Malaysia Human Rights Report 2025 by Suara Rakyat Malaysia, 6,892 arrests have been made under the law, with between 20% and 28% of detainees eventually freed without prosecution. Its coordinator Jernell Tan (pic) said Malaysia’s human rights landscape continues to be defined by a disconnect between reform rhetoric and entrenched state structures that prioritise securitised control and institutional preservation over constitutional safeguards and accountability. While the government moved swiftly in response to hunger strikes and memoranda submitted by families of Sosma detainees,

pledging amendments to the law, progress has remained slow and largely confined to the review stage, mirroring similar promises made in 2018 and 2023. “The report points out that the 28-day detention period without judicial oversight contributes to investigative weaknesses and procedural lapses,” she said.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Azura Nasron (second, left) during the launch of the report at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

remain pronounced, the report added. State Islamic authorities are expanding control over alternative spiritual and wellness practices, while LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face arrests, censorship and public shaming. The 2025 Otot2 raid in Kuala Lumpur exemplified alleged violations of due process and basic human dignity, including sexual harassment, denial of medical care and deprivation of basic necessities. Malaysia’s management of migrants and refugees also remains heavily securitised, with more than 21,000 individuals detained in overcrowded facilities, it said. Exploitative recruitment practices, exclusion from labour protections as well as forced labour persist as systemic issues, leaving many trapped in debt bondage and precarious legal conditions. “Other areas of concern include the lack of transparency in the resentencing process following the 2023 abolition of the mandatory death penalty, limited legal protections for juvenile offenders and individuals with mental health conditions, and environmental and climate policies advancing without coherent rights-based frameworks. “Indigenous communities and environmental defenders continue to face inadequate protection, intimidation and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation threats,” said Tan. – BY KIRTINEE RAMESH

She added that civic freedoms remain constrained. Although the Federal Court struck down Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, affirming the state’s duty to facilitate peaceful protests, police interventions and arrests over symbolic acts of civil disobedience persist. The Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Heidy Quah case, which invalidated the terms “annoy” and “offensive” in Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, was also promptly challenged by the government. Meanwhile, efforts towards media self-regulation through the Malaysian Media Council stand in contrast to continued criminal probes and fines against investigative journalists and newspapers, including over minor errors. On governance, the report notes uneven implementation of reforms. Amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 and the reintroduction of the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 signal some responsiveness, but centralised discretionary powers in procurement laws and entrenched patronage politics continue to dilute anti-corruption efforts. “Judicial independence faces pressure from tenure controversies and delayed appointments, raising concerns about interference from within and outside the judiciary,” she said. Religious oversight and restrictions on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression also

“At the same time, the Home Ministry has provided no updates on amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959, despite calls to extend it to address organised and environmental crimes.” Tan said transparency and accountability remain lacking, particularly in cases involving alleged state-perpetrated violations and the treatment of individuals deprived of liberty. The NGO highlighted the alleged mass assault of 107 detainees at Taiping Prison, suspected to have led to the death of Gan Chin Eng. Families seeking justice complained of encountering institutional barriers, while the state pursued what was described as disproportionate legal responses. Similarly, the Durian Tunggal police shooting, which raised concerns about extrajudicial killing, has seen slow progress, despite instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to reclassify the case as murder. “Although the High Court in November 2025 affirmed state liability for the enforced disappearances of pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, the AGC’s swift appeal signals reluctance to uphold victims’ constitutional right to effective remedies,” said Tan.