The family of disabled ISA detainee Kadir Hashim cannot believe that he is capable of building a bomb with just one hand.

That is the reason police gave them for Kadir's detention when they got to see him at the Bukit Aman police headquarters this morning.

Kadir's brother, Hisham, 42, and their mother Mah Mat Deris, 67, ( left ) spent anout an hour with him from 11.30am today, after being informed last night that they had been granted clearance for the meeting.

"They told us that my brother was being detained because he had something to do with plans to bomb Putrajaya and Bukit Aman.

"I don't believe he can make a bomb, let alone with with just his right hand," Hisham told reporters after the meeting with Kadir.

Kadir, who runs a tom yam foodstall to support himself and his frail mother, was detained on April 4 on suspicion of being involved in a plan to "subvert the government and blow up Putrajaya and Bukit Aman".

Clearly perplexed by this claim, Hisham said the closest his brother ever got to explosives was when he lost his left hand to firecrackers when he was eight years old.

'We had no privacy'

While the family is thankful to the police for seemingly keeping Kadir safe, Hisham said they had nagging doubts about how his brother was keeping in detention.

"We wanted to ask him more about how he was being treated, but we felt this was not appropriate because seven or eight police officers were present. We had no privacy," said Hisham, who works as a driver.

The apparent "good treatment" of Kadir aside, his family is still worried about his safety and adamant that he should be released immediately, since there has been no indication at all whether he would be charged with any offence.

"We asked the police if Kadir was going to be charged with any offence, and they said no. But when we asked them to release him, they said they cannot because he was still being investigated. We don't understand (this situation)," Hisham said.

Police acting in ‘bad faith'

Anti-ISA group GMI secretary E Nalini said the police had acted in bad faith by arresting and detaining Kadir when it was clear that they had no reason to lock him up.

Nalini said the situation only looked worse with the refusal by policeto allow Kadir's lawyers to see him, despite repeated requests.

"All these are subversive moves (against Kadir). They do not make sense. We hope the government will release Kadir immediately... don't make the Malaysian public look stupid," said Nalini, who is also a Suaram coordinator.

Police keep refusing to allow lawyers meet Kadir

The family's lawyer, Murnie Hidayah Anuar, who is also a representative of Lawyers for Liberty, said the stubborn refusal of the police to allow Kadir to meet with them was frustrating, for they could not launch the legal challenge for Kadir's release without his side of the story.

Murnie said the family has instructed them to file a habeus corpus application to secure Kadir's release, but the lawyers could not do this without first meeting with him.

Allowing only Kadir's family, but not his lawyers, to meet him today was further proof that the authorities intended to deny him legal representation, she said.

"He has a right under the federal constitution to meet his solicitors, but this is the game played by the police.

"This is the modus operandi of the police over and over... that is why we are frustrated. But we will keep on pushing to see Kadir," Murnie added.