Don't take the side of 'criminals', Zahid tells NGOs

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has warned NGOs and lawyers against taking the side of ‘criminals’ in their opposition to the amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (PCA).

“Let not any lawyers, individuals or NGOs try to defend the acts of criminals,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Ahmad Zahid was responding to queries about concerns by the Bar Council as well as some BN component parties towards the amendment bill that will re-introduce detention without trial.
He said the NGOs and lawyers should not question the government’s good intentions and gave an assurance that the revised PCA will only be directed at criminals.

Ahmad Zahid added that the government was determined to have the bill passed in this parliamentary sitting.

“There will be no postponements,” he said curtly, adding: “I will personally table the bill for second reading in Parliament today.”

However, Ahmad Zahid appeared open to the possibility of changes to the bill, saying that any such changes would be done at the parliamentary committee stage.

“If there are any changes, it will be brought to the committee level on condition that it is brought by government or opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, not outside,” he said.

Zahid mum after faux pas

Ahmad Zahid refused comment about the brickbats he had received for suggesting that the revised PCA had no detention without trial.

“I am going to deliver my explanation during the debate, they (critics) may raise all the issues there.

“I am open to it but don’t ever debate it in the media, please use the right forum which is in Parliament,” he said.

Zahid’s previous public remark about the PCA in which he equated judicial review to a trial had earned him a series of stinging criticisms from opposition MPs, including urgings for him to take lessons from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.