The Dewan Rakyat today rejected a motion to debate the fate of five reformasi activists whose initial 60-day detention under the Internal Security Act was ruled by the Federal Court recently to be in "bad faith".

In a letter dated Sept 10 to Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang, Speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail said the issue was "not urgent and can be debated anytime".

"Therefore, I reject the motion in chambers and will not allow it to be read in the Dewan," added the speaker.

Abdul Hadi who is acting president for PAS and MP for Marang applied for a motion to debate the matter on Monday.

He urged the government to "release the detainees immediately, take action on the police for their unlawful and mala fide (bad faith) behaviour, and compensate the victims for their wrongful imprisonment".