An Internal Security Act detainee today ticked off Australian defence minister, Senator Robert Hill, for approving the use of the controversial Malaysian law which allows detention without trial.

"It is regrettable that Senator Hill had not only failed to raise Australia's concern for the deterioration of democratic rights in Malaysia, but he had unwittingly become the propaganda mouthpiece for the Malaysian government," ISA detainee Tian Chua said in a statement made available to malaysiakini today.

"I am even more astonished to hear from Senator Hill that the Australian government too is considering a law to enable the authorities to detain terrorist suspects without trial," he added.

Last Thursday, Hill raised eyebrows among Malaysian civil society groups when during a visit to the country, he said that "extraordinary responses" were needed to deal with "those not prepared to accept the norms of reasonable behaviour".

"I've argued that you may take pre-emptive measures and administrative actions that don't curb civil liberties, but should endeavour to ensure that you don't go further than is necessary," Hill had said.

Chua, who is currently serving a two-year ISA detention, said the Malaysian experience shows that such measures could easily become an instrument of state coercion.

"A law which provides the arbitrary power to deny the rights of individuals to due process will inevitably invite the emergence of authoritarianism," said Chua, who had completed his university education in Australia.

In April 2001, Tian and nine other Keadilan and reformasi activists were arrested under the ISA for alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the government.

While four have been released, Chua who is Keadilan vice-president, party leaders Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor, Lokman Nor Adam, Dr Badrul Amin Bahron, Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishamddin Rais remain in detention.

Root cause

Chua added that authoritarian regimes have been the root cause of poverty, instability and violence.

"Therefore, efforts to eradicate violence must go hand in hand with the promotion of democratisation in the region," he said.

He also questioned the authorities' lack of transparency in exposing allegations behind those arrested.

"Among those detained at present are many members of legal political entities that are struggling through peaceful means. Although some ISA detainees have been accused of being Islamic militants, the government provides no evidence to substantiate the alleged terrorist links," Chua added.

In addition to the reformasi leaders, the police has also embarked on a crackdown against 62 suspected Islamic militants, both before and after the Sept 11 terrorists attack on United States.

Among those detained include several PAS activists including Nik Adli, son of PAS spiritual advisor Nik Aziz Nik Mat.