By Malaysiakini
The Prevention of Terrorism Bill (Pota) 2015 was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in the wee hours of Tuesday, despite stiff opposition from Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians.
The bill was read the second time at around noon earlier today, and was passed after about 14 hours of debate.
A motion to stop the Parliament clock was tabled by by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim just before midnight to enable the lower house to debate until the bill is passed.
It was seconded by Deputy Works Minister Rosnah Shirlin.
The controversial Pota Bill was strongly opposed by Pakatan lawmakers on grounds that it allows for detention without trial.
Despite this, it was passed without amendment at 2.25am with 79 votes in favour and 60 votes against the bill.
“(Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) promised the best democracy in the world but […] Pota Bill also known as Internal Security Act 2.0 is bulldozed through using tyranny of the majority in Parliament,” PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tsin told reporters after the bill was passed.
“Welcome back ISA 2.0. God bless Malaysians,” he said.
Multiple bloc voting
Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) during second reading debate proposed the bill be brought to a parliamentary select committee.
Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli
This was seconded by Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai).
However, their bid was foiled with a voice vote, and again after a bloc vote with 64 in favour and 80 against the motion.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs took the opportunity to push their amendments to the bill during the committee stage debate, which looked at each clause of the law.
Among others, the opposition MPs pushed to exclude the detention powers.
They forced a bloc vote at every opportunity, with nine such votes called by the end of debates. Each time, however, their amendments were defeated by around 20 votes.
During one of the many occasions where the proceedings devolved into a shouting match, one BN MP shouted to his opponent to give up.
Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) responded by vowing to press on as it is part of their duties as MPs.
In parliamentary sittings, most motions are passed through a voice vote where MPs shout whether they agree or disagree with the proposed motion.
However, if demanded by at least 15 MPs, then a bloc vote is called where the MPs votes are counted individually.
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