BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Laws which are needed to ensure that the people live in peace and safety can be formulated if existing ones cannot combat extremists, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said the government still maintained its stand that no new law would be introduced after the Special Offences (Security Measures) Act 2013 (SOSMA) was introduced to replace the Internal Security Act.
“If major problems arise, including those that touch on religious sensitivities, new laws can be created if need be.
“However, we have to look after the interests of the majority, not a small group,” Wan Junaidi said.
He was asked to comment on the suggestion of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Malaysia (Aswaja) Association members that the government formed a religious extremist prevention Act to combat religious and radical extremists.
Aswaja chairman, Zamihan Mat Zin, who is also the Home Ministry religious department assistant secretary, said in Shah Alam on Sunday that the new legislation was needed following the many religious disturbances and provocations which threatened the safety of the country and racial harmony following the abolition of the ISA in 2011.
Wan Junaidi was on a working trip to the Malaysia/Thai border here after attending a briefing by various agencies under the Home Ministry at the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex here yesterday.
He said there needed to be boundaries observed by the people so that there was no religious extremism.
Wan Junaidi also said he was satisfied with the cooperation between all 14 agencies under the Ministry at Bukit Kayu Hitam and reminded that they had to play their role in making Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and the creation of the Asean Community in 2015 a success.
“In monitoring the entry of foreign visitors, we are aware of the social effects and those on national security they cause.
“However, the action taken should not be counter to the aspirations of VMY 2014.”
On the expansion of the ICQ in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Wan Junaidi said the project was started last year and was due for completion in 2016.
Also present were the Bukit Kayu Hitam MP, Datuk Ahmad Zaini Japar, Kedah Immigration Department director, Fitri Md Hassan and Kedah deputy police chief, Datuk Zaleha Abdul Rahman. — Bernama