Last November, Prime Minister Najib Razak proposed that a new law against militancy and terrorism be tabled at the next Parliament session. This was followed by a recent announcement by Home Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,confirming that a new act will be tabled in Parliament this month. But the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act has a provision for detention without trial. Human rights activists and lawyers are raising the alarm over what they see as the return of the powers of the infamous Internal Security Act.

Mahesh Krishnan contributed to this report.