While non-governmental organisations and PAS Youth welcomed the release of Shamsuddin Sulaiman, they want the government to release the rest of the detainees being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Suaram, the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI), Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) and PAS Youth issued statements today calling for the review and abolition of the repressive law, which allows for detention without trial.

azlan AIM executive director Nora Murat said the government should uphold the rights and freedoms of all citizens and review all legislation that are contrary to human rights.

“The ISA has served to extend executive powers and remove detainees’ right to legal protection or representation. It is contrary to the fundamental principles of international law,” she said.

GMI and Suaram also jointly called for the government to respect the people’s demand.

“All laws providing for detention without trial should go immediately,” Suaram coordinator E Nalini said, adding that the government should also pay damages to all ISA detainees who were unlawfully detained.

PAS Youth secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil joined the calls to  the government to release all ISA detainees.

“The government should charge them in court to prove their guilt, rather than detain them indefinitely, without having to prove if any crime had been committed,” he said.

Based on a study by Suhakam titled "Review of the Internal Security Act 1960" released on 2003, Khairul said, that the law should be amended because it violated human rights principles and its enforcement was of concern.

“In fact, the new Suhakam commissioner, Hasmy Agam, had said that the ISA should be abolished because the law is a remnant of history and there are no more communists now,” he said.

Shamsuddin placed under restriction order

Suaram, GMI and AIM consider Shamsuddin’s release as "only partial" as he has been put under a restriction order.

NONE “We question the decision to put him under supervision, with restrictions on his movements,” Nora said.

Yesterday, Shamsuddin, the longest serving ISA detainee, was  released after being detained since 2002.

He spent eight years in detention over alleged links with Jemaah Islamiah.

The home minister released him, saying Shamsuddin was no longer a threat to national security as he had shown signs of repentance.

No further explanation was given on the nature of the "threat" or his release by the authorities.