(April 8): Putrajaya today deferred the debate on the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (CPC) Bill 2015 and second reading of Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the next meeting, following objections from lawmakers from both sides of the divide.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Wan Jaafar tabled the motion in Parliament today to defer the first bill while de facto law minister Nancy Shukri made a similar motion on the second bill.

The Dewan Rakyat was halfway through the debate on the second reading of the amendments to the CPC Bill before the House adjourned for lunch.

Wan Junaidi tabled to defer the bill after the Dewan Rakyat resumed at 2.30pm.

The amendments to the Evidence Bill was the third item on the order of the day and expected for second and third reading later today.

The deferment comes on the heels of objections from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat  (PR) lawmakers, who, during the debate on the amendments to the CPC bill earlier, described it as cruel and oppressive.

Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said during the debate that he could not accept the bill as it had elements of persecution.

"This cannot happen... We, the lawmakers, are not comfortable with the Act," he said.

His comrade in BN, Datuk Marcus Mojigoh expressed similar sentiments and urged the ministry to review the amendments.

"I agree there are a lot of weaknesses, there are still many questions. I ask that you review it again," the Putatan MP said.

Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) also voiced his opposition to the amendments and stressed that there were a few elements in the Act that would not bring any benefit to the people.

"We want the law to be implemented as well as possible; through amendments, we intend to ensure that justice is served.

"The powers to the court, judge and police must be given so that when the law is formed, it can be implemented well.

"We are not agreeing because the opposition objects, but in the spirit of the act, this shows that we can implement laws that are good for the people," he said.

Pengerang MP Datuk Azalina Othman also rejected the law on the grounds that there were no in-depth discussions on the matter in approving the law.

"Why is it that in implementing the bill, there are no in-depth discussions? As a former lawyer, I see that it is quite unfair in a lot of matters.

"I am surprised about why they are so adamant in implementing this law so much so they have forgotten the role of the judge, agencies and more," the BN lawmaker said.

Azalina also urged that the amendments be withdrawn so the people will not be further subjected to an oppressive law.

"I am shocked that it is being done in a rash way. I ask the minister to withdraw it, and discuss with the people so that such laws are not oppressive," she added.

Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming from DAP said he felt that the amendments had not gone through a mature discussion process.

"I welcome the calls from BN parliamentarians. This bill has not gone through a maturing process. I ask that this bill be withdrawn," he said. – The Malaysian Insider