Malaysia Votes "The Purge" Into Law

On another forum that I frequent, a poster from Malaysia shared a distressing recent event. The original post was in a members only portion of the forum, so I can't post a link and hopefully this won't run afoul of Rule 4. I thought it would be interesting to share a local perspective.

Quote:

We've always been known for being a Southeast Asian "democracy" that's kind of like Singapore (aka. "Disneyland with the death sentence") except more corrupt and racist, but there were always some limits to how much power rests in one place, and how insane things could get by law. No longer. Thanks to the National Security Council Bill that was passed 107-to-74 tonight, an elite and unimpeachably honest National Security Council comprised of the Prime Minister and seven other people appointed by or otherwise under the authority of the Prime Minister will rule our fates. What kind of awe-inspiring power have they been given under this Bill? Well, they can declare "security areas" where they deem contain threats to "national security" (not clearly defined in the Bill). Based on previous abuse of national security laws, "Threats to national security" can include things like suggesting Prime Minister Najib Razak should be voted out of power, or questioning the national investment development body, 1MDB, for getting billions in debt under the chairmanship of Najib Razak. Or publishing a newspaper or operating a website reporting on the 1MDB scandal or other foibles of the Government. Now here's where it gets good. The Council, and any state or governmental agencies or employees that they order into action (and they can order anyone) will have the authority to arrest or detain *without warrant,* evacuate or use "reasonable force" (not clearly defined in the Bill) on anyone in the "security areas" and (because Hard Men must make Hard Choices to stop the Terrorists) they are henceforth pre-emptively given immunity from prosecution, civil or criminal, for anything they do "provided it is in good faith." *laughs bitterly* Kind of like that Ethan Hawke movie where for one night anyone can commit any crime and indulge in any sin, and they are immune from prosecution, except this only applies to the cops, soldiers, government servants and Council. Totally fair, right? Oh, they can also seize any land or property, demolish buildings and generally do whatever they want in the security area. But wait, surely there must be some sort of checks and balances, right? So the Parliament (just barely controlled by Najib's party mainly through massive gerrymandering) has to gazette the "security area" after it is declared one by the Council. Because if they don't...well, the law doesn't appear to give a damn if the area isn't gazetted. But the area can only remain a "security area" for a maximum of six months, after which...well, the Prime Minister and the Council can just extend the status for another six months. Ad infinitum. During the Parliamentary debates over the Bill, which was rammed through in the period of just three days with no public consultation, members of the fractious and beleaguered (and often arrested) Opposition pointed out that the power to declare a State of Emergency is one of the few things that still rests in the sole province of the King (or Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as He is called here). Oh, that's totally different, replied one of Najib's guys, a "security area" is like totally different.

This is the kind of security bill that all those MJ-12 Black Helicopter Conspiracy guys talk about, but for real.
It's a good thing the Malaysian government doesn't have a history of harassing the opposition via arrest and imprisonment.

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1Q9ST44