updated version The government has denied that political tactics will be a factor in deciding the circumstances of six ISA detainees when their detention order expires in June.

The fate of the six Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees whose two-year detention order will expire in June will not depend o­n the general election.

Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung said today the government will consider releasing the six if they are no longer a threat to national security.

The six Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Tian Chua, Hishamuddin Rais, Saari Sungib, Dr Badrulamin Bahron and Lokman Noor Adam were arrested in April 2001 for allegedly planning to topple the government through militant means.

They have denied the charge.

Ample time

Certain quarters had alleged that the six, five of whom are Keadilan leaders, would not be released in June for fear that it may create problems for Barisan Nasional's election campaign.

However, Chor ( photo ) dismissed this, saying the government has ample time to call for a general election.

The next general election need not be held until May 2005 - encompassing six months after the end of a five-year period in November 2004. The last general election was held in November 1999.

"Whether or not they will be released in June has nothing to do with the general election," he told a press conference at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya.

"I don't want to speculate about this as the ministry will study their fate in accordance with the ISA. What is more important to my ministry is national security and peace."

ISA review

Commenting o­n recent recommendations from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) o­n reviewing the ISA, Chor said the government has always taken the commission's feedback in a positive spirit.

He said every recommendation would be studied carefully as to whether or not it is suitable for adoption.

Early this month, Suhakam called for the repeal of ISA and the enactment of a new comprehensive law to redress an imbalanced situation which is "disproportionately weighted in favour of national security".

The commission had recommended that the government take various interim measures including amending the ISA before a new security law is put in place.

"If the view forwarded by Suhakam is similar to that of the goverment, I think we should have no problem in adopting it," said Chor.

"But, if we find out that the suggestion is not quite suitable to be implemented now, we'll continue studying it from time to time."

Elaborating, he said that if the government feels that the ISA is still relevant, then the law would remain in place.

To a question o­n how the ministry views the ISA, Chor replied: "It is still relevant now."

He added that the government would study the law continuously and make any required amendments to ensure that it remains relevant over the time.

Earlier, Chor received a cheque for RM100,000 from the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia for the Iraq Humanitarian Fund.