SUNGAI BULOH: A total of 160 detainees under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 at Sungai Buloh prison, went on a hunger strike since last night, urging the government to abolish the Act.
Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (Ikhlas) president, Datuk Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah said the strike started about 8pm and involved 160 out of 215 Sosma detainees at the prison.
“This is an on-going effort to urge the government and the Attorney-General (AG) to review the Act.
“There are more than 1,000 Sosma detainees in the country. Some of them claimed they have been ill-treated. Some have even died while in detention,” he told reporters, after a demonstration held outside the prison with the detainees' family members today.
About 200 people gathered outside the Sungai Buloh prison since 10am today to support the call for the abolishment of the Act.
At the gathering, the protestors also voiced out their dissatisfaction over the alleged ill-treatment received by the detainees.
Meanwhile, a Sosma detainee's family member, who refused to be named said that those involved in the hunger strike would continue their protest until a decision has been made on the matter.
T. Harpal Singh, a lawyer representing 19 of the detainees said his clients were seeking for a representation to meet the A-G over their detention.
“The A-G has the power to postpone the execution while awaiting the government's decision on the matter.” he said.