A Malaysian security law that gives embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak sweeping emergency powers came into force Monday, with Amnesty International warning it could be used to trample on human rights.
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Specifically, the legislation allows a National Security Council headed by the prime minister essentially to suspend civil liberties in designated “security areas” giving security forces sweeping powers of search, seizure and arrest.
It also allows the imposition of curfew and detention of suspects without any charges.
The law is aimed at countering terrorism threats, but critics fear Najib will use it as a tool to hold on to power.
However, worldwide organisations, including the United Nations office for Southeast Asia, and human rights groups warn about the perils of the new law.
The legislation gives the government power to declare virtual martial law in areas deemed to be under “security threat”.
Najib has defended the new security law.
The UN Human Rights officer also said the act could lead to “unjust restrictions on free speech and assembly”.
Laurent Meillan, regional representative of the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia, last Friday said she was concerned that these provisions could “encourage human rights violations” and be used to restrict freedom of expression.
The prime minister has been under fire since revelations surfaced that he received about $700 million in his private bank accounts that appeared to have come from the state-owned investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad or 1MDB.
He pointed to the threat posed by militants like the so-called Islamic State (IS) group which was blamed by police for a grenade attack on a bar near Kuala Lumpur in June.
Last week, the US Justice Department launched a move to seize more than $1bn in assets it says were purchased with money stolen from 1MDB, including by a “high-ranking Malaysian government official”, clearly referring to Najib.
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Most notably, the Malaysian government adopted the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) previous year, and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) in 2012, which also include provisions for preventive detention.
