He was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), tortured both physically and mentally, forced to drink urine - and now he has to pay RM70,000 to those who tortured him.

abdul malek hussin mafrel interview 140806 look Despite that, former Internal Security Act detainee Abdul Malek Hussin ( left ) has vowed to soldier on in the face of the recent apex court dismissal of his leave application, following a rare award of RM2.5 million by the High Court over unlawful detention.

In the judgment that could bankrupt him, and with absolutely no more legal recourse, he will now have to turn to help from the public for funds.

"I don't know what I can do now. We may have to set up a fund or get help from the other NGOs.

"I don't like the idea, really. But I cannot be declared bankrupt because it would then mean that I have to forfeit a lot of job responsibility," said Abdul Malek, who is now the parliamentary affairs coordinator for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

He said that he will also be in touch with human rights NGO Suaram and there will be a meeting on Monday to discuss the next course of action.

The Federal Court had yesterday upheld the appellate court's decision to overturn the High Court's rare judgment to award Abdul Malek RM2.5 million over unlawful detention.

NONE In fact, the apex court also ruled for Abdul Malek to pay RM20,000 to the respondents - special branch officer Borhan Daud, the then inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor ( right ), and the government.

This is on top of the RM50,000 that the Court of Appeal ordered him to pay in costs back in March.

Abdul Malek, who is the former chairman of election watchdog Malaysians For Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) will then have to pay RM70,000 altogether.

‘Ruling is cruel'

When contacted by Malaysiakini , he also slammed the judgment, calling it "cruel".

"They dismissed my leave application. They wouldn't even listen to my case first. This is so cruel. At least bagi jalan (give way) to listen lah .

"I think the judiciary is scared," he charged.

"The judiciary is supposed to be a bastion for citizens to seek justice. The idea of citizens going to court is primarily to seek justice. Here, the judiciary backs the authoritarian regime. Gone lah.

"(The courts) have failed in their responsibility to impart justice in defence of human rights and against authoritarianism," he said.

He added that with the judgment, the government's exercise in reviewing the ISA will be merely cosmetic.

NONE Abdul Malek was arrested under the ISA on the night of Sept 25, 1998, after addressing a demonstration earlier that day in Masjid Negara following the sacking and arrest of Anwar ( right ), who was then deputy prime minister.

He was detained for 57 days, and was later released without being charged. He then filed his civil suit in March 1999.

During the High Court trial, the plaintiff testified he was stripped naked in an air-conditioned room, blindfolded during interrogation, and physically assaulted up to 60 times, beaten until he was unconscious, forced to drink urine and subjected to sexual abuse.

He also told the court he saw Rahim punching him in his chin in the interrogation room when his blindfold accidentally dropped.

High Court judge Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus also ruled in 2007, that the assault by Rahim did indeed take place as there was no denial and also there was no report lodged against Abdul Malek for falsifying his report.