Two of the 112 hunger strikers at the Semenyih immigration detention centre in Selangor are said to have fainted from the heat and exhaustion, as the protest enters its second day. However, the camp commander has disputed the claim.

The detainees' spokesperson, only identified as Basyari, said the two were still with the group - one is an Acehnese and the other a Rohingya from Burma.

Calling for medical attention to be provided, Basyari also criticised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for delaying a response to the situation.

"They are very slow to solve the problem despite the fact that women and children are suffering from the heat. There should be more sympathy and positive action," he said.

Basyari, an Achenese holding a temporary UNHCR protection letter, said he has been outside the camp since 11.50am today and that he could see 20 to 30 police officers in the compound.

He also said UNHCR officials had left the premises about 1pm. However, malaysiakini could not reach agency head Volker Turk for comment.

The detainees, who are mainly from Aceh, Afghanistan and Nepal, began their hunger strike at 7am yesterday.

'Only dizzy'

Camp commander Ariffin Mohd Nor, when contacted, said the two detainees had not fainted but that they had been dizzy due to the heat and "are fine now ".

"The detainees have spoken to the UNHCR and we just have to wait and see what action is taken by the (refugee) body," he said.

Yesterday, he had denied that the hunger strike had anything to do with the camp conditions. Those concerned had claimed that they were protesting their detention as well as the poor conditions at the camp.

Ariffin said there are currently 1,540 detainees who are housed in five blocks, with each holding between 350 to 400 people.

The inmates had last night adhered to the camp rules by returning to their cell-blocks, but did not end the strike as reported by some newspapers.

The UNHCR has described the protest action as inappropriate and has advised the detainees to end the hunger strike. It also said it would try and find a solution on humanitarian grounds.