Kula, of DAP, acknowledged the views of his party colleagues Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi), V Ganabatirau (PH-Klang) and RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) that Sosma was an unacceptable law.

“When I was on the other side (in the opposition), I had said it’s the most cruel Act under Malaysian law, and must be thrown away, not just amended.

“But I understand that discussions are ongoing, and I hope that any preliminary actions that can be taken will proceed,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in his winding-up speech on the Sosma (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The bill only seeks to amend the law by removing Section 19, in line with amendments to the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 to empower the courts to convict an accused based on the uncorroborated evidence of a child witness.

The deputy minister was responding to Syahredzan, who urged the government to review whether Sosma should be amended or abolished as a whole and replaced with a new law to safeguard national security.

Syahredzan said it was important to balance between the rights of a detained person and the need to handle security issues.

Previously, Putrajaya said it would consider amending Section 13 of Sosma, which deals with granting bail to Sosma detainees, but that abolishing the law was not being considered.

Under Sosma, an accused is denied bail and has to remain in prison pending the final outcome of a court proceeding. This is because the charge is said to be an offence that touches on national security.

Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto for the 15th general election did not include repealing Sosma, although it pledged to abolish “draconian provisions” under the Act for the general election before that.