On April 7, Malaysians woke up to news of a new law allowing detention without trial of suspected terrorists, with no judicial oversight, being passed.

Much of the outcry was not so much because the law was open to abuse , but because it was passed with a vote that was less than the total number of Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

Many felt that Pakatan could have defeated the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (Pota) had there not been absenteeism and that the absentees were as villainous as those passed the bill.