The government does not act arbitrarily in detaining or taking legal action against any individual without strong grounds, says Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
As such, he said any detention was not solely politically motivated as claimed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, simulaneously labelling the claims by the former prime minister as utterly baseless.
"The accusation is totally baseless. What we do is in accordance with the existing rules.
"There is definitely a reason why we detain someone under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma). We don't take action as we like, when there is no strong proof," he told reporters after launching the ministry level Zumba and People's Sport Carnival programme in conjunction with the National Sports Day here, today.
He said this when asked to comment on claims by Dr Mahathir that Malaysia was now seen by the world as a 'pariah' nation when anybody could be arrested, investigated, detained and charged via the abuse of national laws.
The statement was written by Dr Mahathir following the detention of a former UMNO leader, Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer, Matthias Chang under the Sosma for lodging an international report on 1MDB.
Commenting further, Salleh said during the administration of Mahathir, the former prime minister also stressed that it was the duty of the government to look after national security.
"We must investigate any quarters aiming to disrupt the stability of the nation, that is most important, because our emphasis is on a peaceful Malaysia," he said.
In addition, Salleh said the government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak practised an open government whereby the people would not be punished just for giving their views or had differing views on the government policy.
"But don't give views which are different to the point of breaching the limits of the law. Or to the point of adversely affecting security, unity and inter-communal relations and religion.
"Or being involved in efforts to topple the leadership and in cahoot with those who are not Malaysian nationals. If this takes place, it is the duty of any government to take appropriate action," he added.
Bernama
Sat Oct 10 2015
SALLEH: There is definitely a reason why we detain someone under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma). - File pic
SPR India tuntut maklum balas aduan terhadap Modi, Rahul Gandhi
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya India hari ini memaklumkan pihaknya sudah meminta maklum balas daripada parti pemerintah Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dan parti pembangkang, Kongres.
Penguin maharaja berdepan kepupusan akibat pencairan ais
Spesies penguin terbesar di dunia, penguin maharaja terus berdepan ancaman apabila habitatnya terjejas akibat perubahan iklim. Selain pernah disifatkan bakal pupus menjelang tahun 2050, saintis dari Pusat Penyelidikan British Antarctic Survey pada Khamis memberitahu perubahan iklim memberi kesan terhadap kecairan ais di wilayah beku Antartika yang menjadi habitat buat koloni penguin maharaja.
ANCC2024: Astro, NACSA bekerjasama anjur 'coding challenge'
Diilhamkan daripada komitmen Astro dan NACSA untuk memupuk langkah keselamatan siber yang proaktif, pertandingan itu juga bertujuan untuk menormalisasikan navigasi digital yang selamat dalam ruang siber.
Suhu cecah 42 Celsius, Bangladesh tutup semua sekolah sehingga Sabtu ini
Suhu panas melampau sehingga mencecah 42 Celcius memaksa kerajaan Bangladesh menutup operasi persekolahan yang melibatkan 33 juta pelajar di negara itu.
PM Haiti serah surat peletakan jawatan
Perdana Menteri Haiti, Ariel Henry akhirnya menyerahkan surat peletakan jawatan pada Khamis selepas tidak henti berdepan tekanan antarabangsa bagi mengawal kekacauan kumpulan pengganas di negara itu. Surat rasmi peletakan jawatan yang ditandatangani Ariel Henry diserahkan di Los Angeles dan dikongsi pejabat Perdana Menteri Haiti bersamaan tarikh majlis presiden peralihan ditubuhkan.
RTS JB-Singapura di landasan tepat
Perkambangan pembinaan Projek RTS Johor Bahru-Singapura dilihat berada pada landasan tepat.
Rakyat Israel sudah mula misi bina penempatan kekal di Gaza
Sekumpulan warga Israel yang bermalam di sempadan berarak memasuki Gaza pada pagi Khamis dengan matlamat untuk membuka penempatan kekal di wilayah itu. Dalam poster kumpulan itu yang tular di media sosial, tertera slogan 'tentera telah mendudukinya, maka kami akan menetap disitu'.
Malaysia sebuah negara selamat - Kedutaan AS
Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat di Malaysia menyangkal dakwaan dangkal Profesor Bruce Gilley yang mengatakan Malaysia adalah negara tidak selamat dilawati.
Memetik laporan Free Malaysia Today, pihak kedutaan berkata tiada perubahan kepada nasihat perjalanan yang kekal pada tahap satu, iaitu tahap paling rendah daripada empat tahap.
Memetik laporan Free Malaysia Today, pihak kedutaan berkata tiada perubahan kepada nasihat perjalanan yang kekal pada tahap satu, iaitu tahap paling rendah daripada empat tahap.
Menteri Luar Malaysia perkukuh hubungan dengan China
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan mengadakan perbincangan substantif dengan rakan sejawatannya, Wang Yi, dalam lawatan pertama beliau ke China sejak memegang jawatan itu pada Disember 2023.
Kakitangan bakal terima tunggakan gaji dalam tempoh 30 bulan
Isu tunggakan gaji membabitkan 20 bekas kakitangan Kedah Agro Holdings Berhad (KAHB) selama sembilan bulan dijangka selesai dalam waktu terdekat selepas kesemua mereka akan menerima bayaran secara berperingkat dalam tempoh 30 bulan berjumlah RM337,000.