Sergeant N Tharmendran, who was ordered to be immediately released from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) detention by the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday, should return to work after being freed, Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

NONE He said as a member of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Tharmendran was bound by the rules of the armed forces.

The armed forces, however, would appeal against the decision, Zahid ( right ) told reporters today.

Yesterday, High Court judge Su Geok Yiam ordered Tharmendran to be freed from the Batu Kentomen Camp in Jalan Ipoh, where he had been held since his arrest on  Nov 25 last year, after allowing his application for habeas corpus and ruling his detention unlawful.

However, Su ruled that the arrest of Tharmendran by RMAF Provost Marshal officers was valid under the law.

Tharmendran, 42, was arrested at the car park of the Shah Alam court complex for alleged absence without leave since Sept 6 last year.

Malbatt 3 leaves Lebanon

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid attended a sending off ceremony for the first group of the Malaysian Battalion 3 (Malbatt 3) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon at the RMAF base in Subang.

In his speech, he said the Malbatt 3 would comprise 540 members, including officers, with the first group, involving 100 members, leaving today, followed by the second group of 140 members on Jan 27 and additional 100 members, scheduled in March.

Malbatt 3 would be in South Lebanon for nine months, he added.

Leaving together with the first group of Malbatt 3 today were chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan and Defence Ministry secretary-general Ismail Ahmad, who will be in Lebanon for a three-day working visit.

- Bernama