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Malaysia detains six men under Internal Security Act

Malaysia has imprisoned six more men under a strict security law that allows for indefinite detention without trial, a rights group said yesterday.

The Abolish ISA Movement, which campaigns to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA), found out recently that the six men were detained last month under the law, group chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said.

Home Ministry officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the group’s claim.

Syed Ibrahim said the group’s lawyers discovered the new names on a list of detainees when they visited the special detention center for those arrested under the act. They do not know why the men were arrested, he said.

“I’m quite shocked and annoyed to see what the government is doing,” he said. “We have been speaking out against this law, and here we have six more detainees.”

Rights groups have long campaigned against the act, saying alleged criminals should be tried in court. But the government says the act is necessary for national security.

Malaysia is currently holding 68 people, including 33 foreigners, under the act, Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung was quoted by the national news agency Bernama as saying this week. It was not clear if the number includes the six reported by the Abolish ISA group.

Four Indonesian alleged terrorism suspects held under the act were released and deported early this month, the group said in a statement. Two were arrested in 2002 for alleged links to Jemaah Islamiyah, while the other two were held in 2006 for alleged links to another militant group.

Five ethnic Indian activists detained after organizing a mass protest for equal rights for all races in Malaysia are also being detained. The government they had become a national security threat.
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