00:00Leader of the movement for social justice and activist David Abdullah says the Prime
00:06Minister's position appears to send mixed signals when compared with the framework set
00:12out in the legislation.
00:13I don't know how the Prime Minister could now come and say she's only going to do it
00:18in UNC constituencies or when UNC has local government representatives.
00:24When the bill has a very defined requirement under which the Prime Minister would advise
00:34the President to declare a closed zone.
00:39So there are a lot of contradictions being made.
00:42He is also challenging the government's assurance that sufficient safeguards exist to protect
00:48constitutional rights amid the Attorney General's acknowledgement that the legislation can
00:54infringe in certain areas.
00:56You believe that there are checks and balances in place to protect the law-abiding citizen?
01:04No.
01:05Abdullah also tells the Morning Edition the protection of citizens from violent crime must not be
01:12a political dividing line, pointing to the Prime Minister's language in responding to opposition
01:18criticisms.
01:19Ultimately, I think it will be coming by the courts.
01:22But what the Prime Minister has done with her statement yesterday now is to make this a party
01:26political issue, which is exceptionally unfortunate.
01:29And so her statement, referring to herself in those terms, is to try to get support from her
01:35base to defend her using issues of race and religion and so on, which is horrible.
01:42Yes, when this is really a matter of national concern, it should not be politicised.
01:46He also questions whether the judiciary will be able to provide fair and effective checks
01:52and balances when the new powers are exercised.
01:56There is concern about the strength of the judiciary to ensure fairness, especially where persons
02:04who are detained under the Special Operations Bill will not have the financial resources to
02:09obtain top-level senior counsel to defend them.
02:13Yes?
02:13Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
02:16Yes?
02:17Yes.
02:17Yes.
02:17Yes.
02:18Yes.
02:18Yes.
02:18You
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