MCA Wanita wants police to explain why Maria detained under Sosma

PETALING JAYA: Wanita MCA wants the police to explain why Bersih 2.0 leader Maria Chin Abdullah is being detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
Its chief, Datuk Heng Seai Kie, said the police must justify the use of Sosma and whether it was the appropriate legislation to use.
“I and all of Wanita MCA are wondering why this legislation was used, so I think the police should justify it to the public,” she said.
“What is the reason for Maria to be arrested under Sosma?” she asked at a press conference today.
Heng said the police must have a “solid reason” for arresting Maria under Sosma.
She pointed out that Maria was only charged under Sosma after the Bersih 5 rally last Saturday.
The Wanita MCA chief said she hoped Maria would be released soon if she was proven innocent.
Maria was also detained under Section 124C of the Penal Code that involves activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
Meanwhile, an online petition on ipetition.com against the use of Sosma on Maria and demanding her unconditional release has gained more than 29,000 signatures since Monday.
“When tabling the bill in Parliament in 2011, the government assured and promised Malaysians repeatedly that Sosma will not be used on the basis of differences in political ideology, but it is evident today that the administration led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak is reneging on its promise.
"In our view, this is a clear abuse of legislative and executive powers,” read the petition which has a goal of 40,000 signatures.