The New Straits Times
by Nancy Nais
by Nancy Nais
KUCHING: The Banishment Act 1959, the Restricted Residence Act 1933 and the Crime Prevention Act 1959 are set to be amended as they are outdated, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
He said it was time to review the sentence of banishment for members of gangs and gangsters because the law was outdated, irrational and irrelevant in view of the advances in information and communication technology (ICT).
Hishammuddin also acknowledged that there were cases where those who were banished to rural areas were still active in criminal activities.
"The banishment had failed to stop criminal activities," he said, adding that before, criminals were sent to a remote area without any opportunity to communicate with others, apart from family members and friends.
He said it was time to review the sentence of banishment for members of gangs and gangsters because the law was outdated, irrational and irrelevant in view of the advances in information and communication technology (ICT).
Hishammuddin also acknowledged that there were cases where those who were banished to rural areas were still active in criminal activities.
"The banishment had failed to stop criminal activities," he said, adding that before, criminals were sent to a remote area without any opportunity to communicate with others, apart from family members and friends.
He said now this situation was no longer valid because those banished could use the telephone and Internet to communicate.
"Nowadays, people banished to areas far from home can still contact anyone, including fellow secret society members," he added.
On the Internal Security Act, he said the amended draft had been sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers for approval.
"Once approved, it will be tabled in Parliament," he said, after closing a meet-the-people session at Kampung Boyan-Gersik waterfront yesterday.
He said the ISA had to be amended to make it more liberal, including shortening the initial 60-day detention period.
Other changes proposed were appointing independent investigating officers and reviewing the definition of "threat to national security".
"Nowadays, people banished to areas far from home can still contact anyone, including fellow secret society members," he added.
On the Internal Security Act, he said the amended draft had been sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers for approval.
"Once approved, it will be tabled in Parliament," he said, after closing a meet-the-people session at Kampung Boyan-Gersik waterfront yesterday.
He said the ISA had to be amended to make it more liberal, including shortening the initial 60-day detention period.
Other changes proposed were appointing independent investigating officers and reviewing the definition of "threat to national security".
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