Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan visited the six Internal Security Act detainees who are on a hunger strike at the Kamunting detention centre in Perak today.

Hamdan arrived at the centre at about 11.30am and was accompanied by a doctor from the Taiping hospital who later examined the detainees.

According to the commissioner the six are fine but he expressed concern that a prolonged strike could have an adverse effect on their health.

At the moment they are fine and still sharp but their condition has to be monitored, he told malaysiakini .

Hamdan added since they began their strike on April 10, in conjunction with the first anniversary of their detention, the detainees have been examined by a doctor everyday.

Asked what was discussed during the three-hour visit, the commissioner said the six basically reiterated that they be freed or charged in court for their alleged crimes.

They are also demanding that jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim be allowed to undergo a spinal surgery with a doctor of his choice.

The detainees  Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Noor Adam, Saari Sungib, Dr Badrulamin Baharon and malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais  were detained for their alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the government through militant means.

However, the six who are currently serving a two-year detention, have denied the charge and claimed that their arrests were politically motivated.

Continue advising

Commenting on their demands, Hamdan said there is nothing much the commission can do except to continue advising the government.

Suhakams stand has always been consistent on the ISA. Those detained should be charged in court.

However, we will continue to advise the government with the hope than one day the authorities would listen, he added.

Yesterday, the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) had sent an appeal to Suhakam, urging it to visit the detainees immediately.

GMI secretary S Arutchelvan also asked Suhakam to start an open inquiry into what he claimed was a misuse of the ISA by the government against the six.

We want Suhakam to tell the government to release the six detainees or charge them in open court, he said.

On Wednesday several opposition leaders and activists also submitted a memorandum to the commission, calling on it to secure the release of the detainees.

Lawyers barred

Earlier today, Kamunting centre officials barred two of the detainees legal advisors, Ngeh Koo Ham and M Kulasegaran, from meeting them.

Ngeh, who is also Perak DAP chairperson, told malaysiakini later that this was a violation of the detainees rights.

Hamdan said the centres authorities told him that the detainees were permitted to meet the lawyers only once a week but since the hunger strike started they have been coming everyday.

Furthermore, the authorities claimed, the lawyers discussed political matters and not the case.

In a related development, DAP today called on Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to give an assurance that no action would be taken against the six for staging the hunger strike.

Abdullah should give a categorical assurance that the six would not be penalised or victimised in any manner, said party national chairperson Lim Kit Siang in a press statement.

The opposition leader also rapped Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Hueng for claiming on Thursday that the six were violating detention regulations and procedures.

According to the rules and regulations under the ISA, detainees who refuse without any reasonable excuse to eat the food provided in the place of detention are construed as committing an offence.

It is punishable by confinement in a punishment cell and the deprivation of, among others, visitors, books or clothing.