Twenty-five individuals were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act, up from 10 last year, the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) said today.

At a press NONE conference, GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said they include eight immigration officers and one foreigner arrested on Oct 13.

"We suspect the government has a hidden agenda. It may be oppressing and threatening the small fry to prevent them from exposing the real culprits," he said.

He said this was not the first case, as National Registration Department and Immigration Department officers had previously been nabbed to prevent them from testifying in court to expose criminal syndicates.

The law, according to Syed Ibrahim, has also been used for religious persecution such as in the case of a raid on a religious class in Sg Cincin, Gombak in Selangor.

He said that a 60-day detention order was issued for 10 individuals who were attending class. However, the nine foreigners among them were later deported.

The sole Malaysian in the group, Azzahari Murad, has been placed under a Restricted Residence Order for two years.

Lawyer Syamsuri hindraf supporters kamunting prison protest 280408 11 atina Ishak, who represented those detained during the Sg Cincin raid, said that her visits to the Kamunting Detention Camp (right) in Perak have revealed that the government is expanding the premises.

She said three new cell blocks that can each accommodate 20 people were being constructed during her visit early this year, while another block was already in operation.

"This shows that the government wants to continue using the ISA," said Syamsuriatina, a representative of the Bar Council.

Another mass rally planned

Syed Ibrahim also said GMI welcomes Pakatan Rakyat's pledge to abolish the ISA within the first 100 days if it forms the federal government.

He noted that it only requires a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat to pass a motion to repeal the law.

GMI will organise another mass rally before the general election to demand the abolition of the ISA, he said, but details will only be released next year.

gmi leaflet demonstration anti isa 040709 leaflet On Aug 1 last year, GMI had organised a mass rally to submit a petition seeking the Agong’s intervention against the use of the ISA.

This protestors ran into arrests and the use of teargas and water cannon by the police.

Although the federal government promised to review the ISA in April last year, no action has been taken. In fact, said Syed Ibrahim, more people have been arrested.

"We are adamant that the law must be abolished. The government must also release all detainees and apologise to them," he added.