Two years in detention has strengthened former Internal Security Act detainee Dr Badrulamin Baharon's resolve to continue fighting for freedom and justice under the banner of reformasi.

Released from Kamunting on Thursday, Badrulamin said he had lost nothing by being incarcerated under the controversial act, which allows indefinite detentition without trial.

Contrary to what others may think, he added, there are some very sweet memories of his time in the camp, which now houses some 100-odd detainees, all serving time on orders of the Home Ministry, for allegedly being a threat to national security.

"For one, I have become more popular. Once upon a time, not many people knew who was Badrulamin, now even people in New York have heard of my name," he told malaysiakin i, when met at Keadilan's Taiping office on the day of his release.

"I have also done something extraordinary in these two years which I could not do in the forty years that I was free - I have managed to read some 200 books," said the cheerful and healthy looking 42 year old ex-lecturer, who suffers from high blood pressure.

Badrul Amin was among the six who were detained under the ISA in 2001 for purportedly planning to topple the government via militant means, a charge all have denied.

The others - Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Adam, Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais - have also been freed, some on bail for cases still pending in court.

Improve himself

The Sabah-born Badrul Amin said the two-year period had given him the opportunity to improve himself physically, mentally and spiritually.

Yet, he had also experienced heart-wrenching moments, especially when visiting time for his family came to an end and he had to say goodbye to his wife, Zumrah Husni, and his children. Badrulamin, who has travel and consultancy business in the country, is blessed with seven children.

"Whenever I missed my family, all I could do was to write my feelings down, or I looked at their photos. In a way, I felt relieved, even though it was only temporary relief," he said.

"In fact, after meeting them, I felt worse. After they left, sometimes I just lie in bed, thinking about the kids, their journey back home, how they fare in school, how they get along with life," he added.

"Sometimes I told my wife not to come if she was really busy. Although I was happy to see them, I was not satisfied, as we had to conduct our conversation between iron bars. It is like being in a cage, this part of Kamunting life is indeed very cruel".

"But my detention is actually a blessing in disguise", Badrulamin was happy to note.

"I would be lying if I say I am not angry. As a human being, I also felt the anger but I believe this is a blessing in disguise."

Learning patience

Badrul said although the past two years had not been easy, he had learnt the virtue of patience. "A fundamental quality of a good leader is patience and I'm glad I've learnt that."

"I have read about Nelson Mandela and his book "Long Road to Freedom", how I admire him. And then there is {ex-deputy premier) Anwar Ibrahim who has spent four long years in prison?"

But Badrulamin was not left alone even in Kamunting as special branch officers often visited him from time to time to "catch up on things".

He said the officers wanted to know his latest position on current issues and his plans once he was freed.

He was also asked if he would leave politics and resign from Keadilan, a multi-racial party headed by Anwar's wife and Permatang Pauh member of Parliament Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

"I told them that when I am free, I will be a good person, a better citizen. I have never been specific with them," he said, laughing.

"I also told them that nothing is impossible in politics. Seven days in politics is a very long time. This I feel is a very fair answer, to myself and to others," he added.

Wife just as determined

By his side as he chatted with this journalist was his happy wife Zumrah who had been kept very busy for the past two years, attending to the children and commuting to Kamunting from Kuala Lumpur on a weekly basis.

She said that eventhough her husband is now a free man, she would continue to be involved in the campaign against the ISA with the Anti-ISA Movement (AIM).

"Many wives of detainees have approached me when I came to visit my husband. They pleaded with me to help get their husbands out of here'," she said.

"We are now like family because of our common problem. I know nothing about the ISA until my husband was detained," she added.

"When it happened, it had strengthened my resolve to see that this cruel act is abolished one day. I have never regretted what happened. But his release is a gift to my children for Father's Day," she said.

The couple's third child, Ain-Najwa 16, who was also present, said she had presented her father with a wonderful gift - flying colours in her recent school examinations.

"My friends and teachers in school have always been very supportive. My teachers always tell me to be courageous," she said.

"That is why I managed to pass my exams. It is a present to my father. He was very happy to see my results," she added.

Ain-Najwa said she felt depressed when she witnessed her mother's struggle alone for the past two years.

"I tried not to make her sad or angry. As my father was not around, we always tried to make her happy".

Before leaving the Taiping office for Kuala Lumpur, Badrul Amin gave his lawyer and fellow Keadilan supreme council member Cheah Kah Peng a bear hug.

He said he was grateful for the lawyer's relentless dedication and commitment to help all the ISA detainees. Cheah, who hails from Penang, visited the six almost on a weekly basis.

Speaking to reporters later, Cheah welcomed the good news but maintained that the reformasi 6 should not have been detained in the first place.

"This is very clear political persecution of Keadilan leaders. This experience has only increased our determination to help the country recover from the oppression and injustices of the BN government," he added.