Three individuals - including one Indonesian - have been detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) over suspicion of links with foreign militant activities.

According to Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, Indonesian national Mustawan Ahbab, 34, was detained in Bukit Indah, Ampang. He is a marketing executive.

The two locals were contractor Samsul Hamidi, 34, and a company director Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh Junaid, 70.

They were arrested at Temerloh, Pahang and Taman Melur, Ampang respectively.

Musa said that the trio were held under Section 73 of the ISA, which grants the police power to detain suspects up to 60 days without consent of the home minister.

Rights groups denounce ISA

In an immediate reaction, the Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI) and human rights advocacy group Suaram has condemned the arrest.

“GMI and Suaram values that the security of the country is of utmost importance and does not condone any terrorist activities, but one’s entitlement to a fair trial should not be deprived on any basis.

“If the Government has evidence against the suspect, we urge the government to charge him in an open court; otherwise, he should be released without any delay and unconditionally,” said the two groups in a joint statement.

The group groups accused government of practising double standards because the arrests comes at a time when the ISA was suppose to be undergoing review.

“This incident exhibits yet again the true colours of the ISA, which is extremely arbitrary and has been abused in the pretext of national security,” read the statement.