(March 31): Harsher anti-terrorism laws will be better for Malaysia's tourism industry, said tourism minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in voicing his support for Putrajaya's Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) that was tabled in Parliament yesterday.

The Umno minister expressed confidence that the law, which will be debated in Parliament next week, would not adversely affect the country's billion ringgit tourism industry.

"To me, POTA is very important. If this country is threatened by terrorism, everyone won't want to visit our country.

"If you ask me, the more stringent the POTA, the better it is for tourism because they will know that in this country, there is no compromise at all when it comes to fighting the threat of terrorism.

"And what that means is that they will feel secure and safe to vist our country," he said after announcing the 19th Malaysian Tourism Award in Parliament today.

Nazri's cabinet colleague, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tabled POTA yesterday, which will detain suspected terrorists without trial and which also disallows judicial review on such decisions made by a Prevention of Terrorism Board, unless it concerns procedural requirements of the detention.

Under the proposed law, suspects can be first detained a maximum of 59 days, before being brought to the board, which can then order further detention up to two years.

Following this, the detention period can be renewed if the board decides that there are reasonable grounds. It can also direct a person to be set free.

The bill does not allow any judicial review in any court, noting that no court shall have or exercise any jurisdiction in respect of, any act done or decision made by the board in its discretionary power.

The only exception is with regard to any question of compliance with any procedural requirements.

The POTA bill expressly states that no one can be arrested and detained "solely" for their political beliefs or political activity.

In tabling the 19-page White Paper titled "Towards overcoming the threat of Islamic State", Najib said existing anti-terrorism and militancy laws like the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), Prevention of Crime Act and the Penal Code should be bolstered.

Zahid said earlier this morning that 75 Malaysians had been arrested by police on suspicion of involvement in militant groups. – The Malaysian Insider