Preliminary

Prevention of Terrorism Board (POTA) Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs was established through Establishment Warrant No. K 129 Year 2015 by Ministry of Finance on September 7, 2015. The establishment of the secretariat is in accordance with the drafting of Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 [Act 769] affective on September 1, 2015. This secretariat is responsible as the coordinating secretariat to the Prevention of Terrorism Board which was appointed by SPB Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the implementation of the Act.

Background

The Special Meeting of the National Security Council on October 14, 2014 has decided for the White Paper to be prepared to explain the people on the threats by the Islamic State (IS) militant group involving Malaysians, and the Paper was tabled in House of Representatives. A decision was made towards the drafting of a specific law in dealing with terrorism and has been approved in the House of Representatives on April 6, 2015 and Senate on April 23, 2015. The drafting of this preventive law is the Government proactive measure to the other punitive laws. It is with the aim to prevent commission or support to terrorist acts involving listed terrorist organizations in a foreign country or any part of a foreign country. This Act is to ensure the safety and guarantees the country peace for the welfare of all Malaysians.