The five reformasi activists who have been undergoing a two-year Internal Security Act detention since last year met other inmates at the Kamunting Detention Centre for the first time when they participated in a sporting event held in conjunction with Merdeka day.

Their lawyer, M Kulasegaran told malaysiakini this after meeting three of the detainees at the centre yesterday morning.

He said he met Keadilan leaders Tian Chua and Saari Sungib as well as filmmaker-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

Keadilan leader Dr Badrul Amin Baharon could not meet the lawyer due to "personal reasons" while another detained party leader, Lokman Noor Adam, was attending a court case in Kuala Lumpur.

"The three are in good health and high spirits," said Kulasegaran.

"They told me that they were glad to be allowed to meet with the rest after more than 500 days in isolation," added the former DAP member of parliament.

According to the lawyer, the five participated in soccer, sepaktakraw and chess matches with about 50 other detainees.

Indoctrination lectures

However, he said they were denied from attending indoctrination lectures with the rest.

The five were detained last April for allegedly planning to topple the government through militant means.

They have denied the charge and claimed that their incarceration under the security law which provides for detention without trial is politically motivated.

Another Keadilan leader, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, who was also being held at the detention centre under the same charge is now undergoing a two-year imprisonment at the Kajang prison after he was found guilty of violating the Official Secrets Act last month.

Ezam was convicted for leaking classified documents to the media regarding an Anti-Corruption Agency probe on International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik.

His jailing evoked strong criticism against the government for allegedly shielding wrongdoings of ruling politicians and business associates under the veil of such laws..

Meanwhile, Kulasegaran said the six, including Ezam, have applied to be present at the Federal Court in Kuala Lumpur this Friday to hear the decision on their habeas corpus application.

Habeas corpus is a writ that challenges the legality of one's detention.