Solution to crime is first-class policing, group tells govt

The government's defence of the draconian acts including its move to replace the Emergency Ordinance with an equally repressive act has been condemned by rights group Lawyers for Liberty.

Its adviser Eric Paulsen said the move showed the real face of prime minister Najib Razak, saying he had "shredded any last remaining 'reformist' or 'democrat' credential after going back to almost all of his human rights reform."

Paulsen also rapped the recent statements by senior police officers and government leaders blaming the abolition of the EO which allowed detention of suspects without trial for the rise in crime.

"To blame the absence of the EO as the reason for the spike in crime is shockingly irresponsible and points to a deep and systemic failure in law and order and crime prevention.

"There is no cogent evidence to link the rise of crime to the EO's repeal and such an excuse looks like an easy way out for those responsible, namely the Home Minister and PDRM," he said.

Home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently announced that the government was working on new law to replace the EO.

The move is being seen as similar to the government's introduction of the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 to replace the Internal Security Act, as well as the Peaceful Assembly Act to replace the Police Act in managing public gatherings.

LFL stressed that the solution to crime was not in reintroduction of "oppressive and antiquated preventive laws".

"Instead of providing short cuts, the government should strengthen the police force properly and provide them with adequate resources, support and training to be a modern and civilised first world police force that rely on effective, innovative and modern investigation methods rather than the bad old days of torture, abuse of power and preventive laws," said LFL in its statement to Harakahdaily.

- Harakahdaily