Wan Azizah: Need to review use of Poca on juveniles

The use of the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) to detain persons below 18 years old without trial needs to be reviewed, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today.

This is after Suhakam and human rights NGO Suaram urged that the Act not be used on children and juveniles anymore.

Asked about this, Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister, said she would discuss the matter with Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who oversees the police force.

She also opined that juveniles ought to be given a chance to be rehabilitated.

“Maybe we have to look at this again so that they (juveniles) are not put in the same environment as other people (adults) who are convicted.

“I and the (home) minister will discuss this further. Indeed there are security reasons (for using Poca).

“But I think (for) children under 18, we should look and review the matter deeply because I think any child should be able to be given some chance of rehabilitation,” Wan Azizah told the media after distributing mandarin oranges at a morning market in her constituency of Pandan, Selangor.

One juvenile in detention, 27 being monitored

Suhakam and Suaram had called on the government to release and compensate the 142 juveniles detained under Poca, quoting a figure they obtained from parliamentary replies.

Some of the detainees were arrested for theft and being in a vehicle for stolen goods, they added.

Today, Wan Azizah clarified that as of Jan 30 this year, only one person under the age of 18 was detained under Poca in a separate cell from adults at the Kluang special rehabilitation centre.

“He was involved in a serious crime - armed robbery,” she added.

A further 27 juveniles are currently restricted in their movements under Poca.

The 142 figure referred to the total number of juveniles detained under Poca from 2015 to 2017, she said.

Asked if the government would release the one Poca detainee, Wan Azizah said she left the decision to the Home Ministry and the police.  - Mkini

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