Amnesty slams Malaysia arrests under 'flawed' law

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Global rights group Amnesty International urged Malaysia on Friday to release or charge two Malaysian men detained under a new "deeply flawed" security law over their alleged involvement in terrorism.

Malaysian police confirmed in a statement they arrested two men, together with a woman, on Thursday on suspicion of having masterminded the recruitment of Malaysians "for the purpose of terror activities".

They are believed to be the first to be held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma, which Prime Minister Najib Razak's government introduced last year to replace the much-criticised, colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA).

But the new act has also come under criticism for giving authorities too much power to hold people on broad grounds for up to 28 days without charge.