Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said he favours an amendment to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), which allows for detention without trial up to 28 days, instead of a complete repeal.

On the use on the law against individuals linked with the now-defunct Sri Lanka rebel group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mohamad said the matter should be left to the police, but noted that there have been instances where Sosma has been abused.

"There is no need to abolish Sosma. In my opinion, it needs to be improved from time to time to avoid abuse...