Malaysia’s controversial DNA law passed by Parliament

Malaysian DNA law passed

The Parliament passed the DNA law yesterday that will force criminal suspects to provide DNA samples.

After being tabled, motioned in Parliament, and with opposition opposed and complaints to it, the bill was passed with a simple majority.

Despite opposition protest stating that there was no data protection guarantees to protect suspects’ privacy, their protest was futile and was rejected by the government.

Some believed the bill was rushed and aimed at legitimizing evidence of the current legitimizing evidence of Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Under the new act, this means that Anwar need to comply in providing his non-intimate DNA samples, such as saliva or hair.

Before the act was passed, such DNA can only be obtained if the suspects give it voluntarily.

Anwar’s lawyer stated that although the DNA sample is not admissible in court as evidence, it does not necessarily deemed to be conclusive, and it does gives the court the power to deal with people who refused the DNA request on order.