Scrap DDA, stop detention without trial!

SUARAM had launched a booklet on the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 last weekend. Three speakers were invited to speak on the topic. They were Dato' Siva Subramaniam (SUHAKAM commissioner), saudara S. Arutchelvan (secretariat members of SUARAM) and saudara Gobin Singh (lawyer).

In spite of the cold response from public and press, the panelists gave very good analysis on the Dangerous Drugs Act, which permits detention without trial. Similar to the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Emergency Ordinance (EO), Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) can detain anyone without bringing him/her to the court. The number of detainees under the DDA is way more than the other two draconian laws. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the law (which has mostly been used on drugs traffickers and drugs addicts), the public has turned a blind eye on the sinister act.

In fact, according to the reply given by the Ministry of Internal Security during a sitting of the parliament in July 2005, a total of 5967 people had been detained under the DDA at Simpang Renggam Detention Centre between 2000 and June 2005. In comparison, ISA is nothing! (To date, there are approximately 103 ISA detainees in Kamunting Detention Camp)

The SUHAKAM commissioner has precisely pointed out that despite so many arrests under the DDA, crimes related to drugs remain rampant. So, it is high time for all members of the society to urge the government to:

SCRAP DDA and Stop Detention Without Trial!

p/s: Anyone who is interested to own this booklet, please contact me at 012-5173067 or 03-77843525. You can also drop by to pick it up at 433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah, 46000 PJ.