The 13 ISA detainees, whose freedom was announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his first act in office last night, will have to wait another day before they can walk out of the Kamunting Detention Camp.

hindraf kamunting prayer 161207 entrance According to a Bernama report, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan announced that the detainees will leave the detention centre tomorrow after all the documentation process are completed.

The family of one of the detainees - Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader and lawyer V Ganabathirau, 40 - had today waited in vain outside the detention camp for his release.

Speaking to reporters, who have also been at the detention centre near Taiping since the crack of dawn, Ganabathirau's wife B Buvasniwary said the family was still waiting for the official letter of release from the Home Ministry.

"The officials inside said we have to wait for the letter of release. So far there's no indication of his release," she said.

Buvasniwary hindraf 040409 Buvaniswary ( right ) was sceptical of her husband's release as she would "only believe it when he comes out of the gate".

"I thought he would be released today. But I won't believe anything until he comes out of the gate," she said while holding her baby daughter in her arms.

Scepticism over the new PM's decision

isa detainee family 040409 Ganabathirau is among five Hindraf leaders who have been held in detention for 15 months after organising a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25, 2007 accusing the government of marginalising the Indian community in the country.

They were subsequently detained under the Internal Security Act in late December the same year.

The other Hindraf leader who is also expected to be released tomorrow is R Kenghadharan, 40.

bersih 21 charged in petaling jaya session court 230109 tony puah DAP leader Tony Pua who was also present at the Kamunting camp to welcome the detainees’ release however expressed scepticism over the new PM's decision.

He said the move is "partially expected" as Najib "had to show something ahead of the by-elections" in Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai to ensure Barisan Nasional's win.

"Najib could have delayed the announcement by two weeks, after the by-elections," said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.

But he believed that the voters would not be influenced by the move as "they have made up their minds" in supporting the opposition.

'Waiting is torturing'

Later in the afternoon, ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, who was also expecting the release today, visited the camp. Like those who were there, he left disappointed.

hindraf isa detainee r kenghadharan and v ganabatirau released 060409 "They should release the detainees immediately as announced (by Najib) as their families have come all the way to welcome their family members.

"The waiting is torturing," he added.

Mohd Nizar, who is also a PAS candidate in Bukit Gantang, said the release should have been made "a long time ago".

"But the decision is made now... to an extent, it is an election ploy," he said.

When asked whether this would affect the opposition campaign for the anticipated by-election, he replied: "Not at all".

"The people will support us even more with the release... because they want all detainees released and the ISA abolished," said Mohd Nizar.

The two Hindraf detainees were among five Hindraf leaders who have been in detention for the last one and a half years.