The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is completing its groundwork for a public inquiry into the conditions of those held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Taiping, Perak.

Suhakam vice-chairperson Harun Hashim said the date for the inquiry, which is expected to be held this month, will be set at the commission's monthly meeting next week.

"We are finalising the details of the inquiry, including preparations for witnesses and detainees, to be discussed at our next meeting on Monday," he said when met at Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur today.

It is learnt from reliable sources that the inquiry is expected to be held in Taiping.

"The number of witnesses is still not determined and arrangements are being made with the authorities in Taiping and Kamunting.

"It will encompass a cross-section of ISA detainees held in Kamunting, including members of the Shia faith, the Al-Ma'unah martial arts cult and the six reformasi activists," a source said.

Hunger strike

Family members of the detainees have lodged complaints with Suhakam over alleged human rights violations in the detention camp.

Two months ago, the six reformasi activists and ISA protestors also held a hunger strike which lasted 11 days, to mark the anniversary of the first ISA dragnet since Operasi Lalang in 1987.

The Kamunting camp houses those detained under the ISA including political prisoners as well as 'pre-release' detainees, or inmates awaiting release by prison authorities.

ISA detainees are initially placed under a 60-day preventive detention order by the police to facilitate 'investigations'. If they are not released at the end of this period, they will be sent to the Kamunting camp to serve a two-year detention order signed by the home affairs minister.

Various lobby groups, from non-governmental organisations such as the Abolish ISA Movement to pockets of student movements, have been mobilising public support to pressure for the abolition of the act.