KUALA LUMPUR: The Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2015 (Pota) tabled in Parliament yesterday is just a “reincarnation” of the defunct Internal Security Act (ISA), said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders.

Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad (pic) raised concerns about the fairness in the enforcement of the new law, and said assurances to politicians so far were meaningless as it could be used against critics of the government.

The government tabled yesterday the Pota and the Special Measures against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill, as well as five amendments to existing laws to curb terrorist threats in the country.

“During the ISA, in the era of Tun Abdul Razak, he assured the people that the ISA would not be used against political rivals, but did it have any meaning?” asked Raja Kamarul outside the Parliament on Monday, after Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tabled the bills for first reading.

“A long time ago, when the ISA was approved, such a guarantee was given by the prime minister, not an ordinary minister (Ahmad Zahid),” he said.

The PAS leaders said although there are special provisions in respect of guarantees, selective prosecution remains a valid concern.

Guarantees like these have been given so many times, just like the Sedition Act, which is only being used against the opposition leaders, they said.

Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said the new act was no different from the abolished ISA and would become a threat to human rights.

“After checking it, I find that it is no different, between the ISA and Pota. Like old wine in new bottle,” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

Wong also said a legal team consisting of PR leaders will conduct a review of the act. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 31, 2015.