Facebook, Twitter posts should be used as terrorism evidence, says Zahid
The Home Ministry wants the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) to be amended to allow information from communication tapping to be used as evidence in court to curb terrorism in the country.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said at present, information from communication tapping could not be tendered as evidence in court.
Citing the example of a suspect who is currently in police custody for 17 days for allegedly channelling funds to terrorism groups, Zahid said the person was active on social media but the information could not be tendered as evidence in court.
"Not only was he a sympathiser but we also know that he was channelling funds to a terror group which was known to him and the others in his group, but not to his family and wife. This is why we need preventive laws,” he said at a press conference after officiating a seminar on jihad and militants at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur today.
He said because of this, his ministry has suggested that the Attorney-General amend Sosma and Anti-Money Laundering Act so more measures could be taken to prevent Malaysians from getting involved in terrorism.
He also said the public should not be worried about government trying to intrude into everyone's privacy as such action would only apply to those listed under the authorities' radar.
"The authorities will only tap communication line of those we have identified and suspected of having involvement in terrorist activities," Zahid said.
He said Putrajaya was also studying the template for an Anti-Terrorism Act which has been implemented in seven countries to improve the existing law and if necessary create a new legislation to ensure more preventive measures could be taken to tackle terrorism.
"We are not going to copy the template but only to study it to improve ours," Zahid said.
He added that the government will be presenting a White Paper in the Parliament sitting soon, before the session ends on November 27.
"I am not going to talk further about this but we will mention many things that is to show our seriousness in handling the terrorism issue in the country as well as addressing the Islamic State threats here," Zahid said.
He said the White Paper will be produced with the help of the Home Ministry, police and other related government agencies.
Zahid also believes that the opposition should support the government's effort to curb terrorism.
"This is a national issue that affects everyone and involving the safety and the security of the country," he said.
This is the fourth time such a paper will be presented in Parliament. The first was on the Memali incident in Baling in 1985, then Ops Lalang in 1987. The government was supposed to present a third paper on militant group Al Maunah but decided against it to avoid interference with the court proceedings. – November 1, 2014
