However, he said that certain aspects and sections of Sosma should be amended and improved on for the benefit of all parties as the law has been deemed too harsh.

Certain provisions relating to the powers of the police should be looked into, he was quoted as saying.

He said Pakatan Harapan had been against the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act from the very beginning.

“However, if it is to do with counter-terrorism, I support the police action to use Sosma, not only against the LTTE, but also against all forms of terrorism,” he said after opening the Penang PKR Convention here today.

Five DAP members, including two assemblymen, were among 12 people detained by police for allegedly promoting, supporting, instigating, encouraging, raising funds and possessing items relating to the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Anwar denied that some former PKR members were also arrested with regard to the case.

“I have not received any report on current or former PKR members being involved or arrested by the police’s counter-terrorism division (E8),” he said.

In another development, Anwar, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Reform and Governance, said he was of the opinion that the 2020 Budget did not give much focus to the agriculture industry, although he considered it as one of the key industries for the country.

He said the agriculture industry also needed a special budget to grow as the country has resorted to importing RM52 billion worth of agricultural produce each year.