Suhakam chairman Rahmat Mohamad said Section 4 of Sosma, which permits the arrest, detention, and extension of detention of an individual without judicial oversight, violates the fundamental principles of human rights.

Rahmat said Suhakam had received a memorandum about a hunger strike by Sosma detainees in the Sungai Buloh and Alor Setar prisons on July 30.

Suhakam then visited both prisons on Aug 1 to interview the Sosma detainees and gather information about the hunger strike.

“The hunger strike was initiated due to detainees’ dissatisfaction with the prolonged and frequently postponed trials, as well as their objections to the charges under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which relates to organised criminal groups.

“Suhakam will continue its investigation into the complaints and will collaborate with the detainees’ families and relevant government agencies to pursue further follow-up action,” he said in a statement.

The detainees at the Alor Setar prison ended their hunger strike on Aug 1, and those at the Sungai Buloh prison ended theirs the next day.

The families of the 69 detainees – 34 at the Sungai Buloh prison and 35 at the Alor Setar facility – had also joined the hunger strike on July 30 to protest the continued incarceration of their loved ones.

Some of the detainees have been held for as many as three years without trial.

The Pakatan Harapan-led unity government has been accused of backtracking on reforming Sosma after the coalition had been vocal about it previously.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail defended the law earlier this year, saying it “allows the court process to take place” and is necessary to tackle organised crime-related cases.

Repealing the law was not listed in PH’s manifesto for the general election last year.

Saifuddin later acknowledged that certain provisions in Sosma will need to be reviewed from “time to time”, though he reiterated there will not be any amendments to the Act for now.