24 Feb 2020

Press statement by MCA Civil Society Movement Coordination Bureau Chairman Ng Kian Nam


LTTE 12 charges dropped: Contradiction between AG & Home Minister affects credibility of police to combat terrorism



Following the release of the LTTE 12, the contradictions between the Attorney-General and the Home Minister have sullied the counter-terrorism credibility of our police force.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin lambasted Tommy Thomas, emphasising that the AG has no power under the law to interfere as the inclusion of the LTTE in the terror list comes under the purview of the Home Ministry which was made under Section 66B (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001.

The MCA Civil Society Movement Coordination Bureau is concerned with the fact that the Pakatan Harapan government is adopting two contradicting approaches to this issue, resulting in an uncertain stalemate, whether the LTTE 12 would be released effective immediately or would they be detained once again under national security acts by the police.

Although the AG is granted absolute criminal prosecution rights under the Constitution, the Home Minister similarly holds the authority to continue to detain suspects released by the court.

This case had also been alleged to be at the receiving end of political interference right from the get-go, as the 12 suspects include two from DAP’s state assemblyman line-up. It is also too much of a coincidence that this dropping of charges should fall on the very same day as the PH Presidential Council.

These invite misgivings that the LTTE 12 case has become highly politicised and has devolved into a front for power struggle within the PH coalition.

The PH must fulfil its manifesto on separating the AG’s role as both the Public Prosecutor and the legal adviser to the government, to avoid similar complications in the future.

 

Ng Kian Nam
MCA Civil Society Movement Coordination Bureau

-MCA online-