The activities of the six former Internal Security Act (ISA) reformasi detainees who were released in June would be constantly monitored by the government, Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung said today.

"The monitoring by the ministry is to ensure they are not manipulated by elements out to jeopardise the country's security and peace," he told the Dewan Rakyat.

The six, Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, Lokman Adam and Dr Badrulamin Bahron, and malaysiakini columnist- cum-film maker Hishamuddin Rais, were released at the end of their two-year detention period at the Kamunting detention centre.

They were released in two batches, on June 1 and June 12 respectively.

The foreign list

Responding to a question from Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), Chor also revealed that 160,000 foreigners are on the 'blacklist' of the Immigration Department and are barred from entering the country.

Among them are Tian Chua's fiancee from Hong Kong, Mabel Au , and high-profile Taiwanese politician-cum-singer Chu Mei Feng . Chu was not allowed to perform in the country following the public expose of her sexual liaison with her boyfriend.

Au ( photo ), a Hong Kong citizen, was turned back at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in June 2001 upon her arrival to visit Tian who was under detention.

Chor said the two women are "threatening the country's peace", adding that the country's peace also encompasses culture and not only politics.

On the 160,000 foreigners, the deputy minister said they were blacklisted under Section 8(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.

The section stipulates 15 categories of foreigners barred from entering the country. They include mental patient, prostitute, pimp, beggar, member of 'body against the government', and those with criminal record or unemployed and without possessing a medical report.

Unfair treatment

To a supplementary question from Nasharudin Mat Isa (PAS-Yan), Chor said he could not reveal the names of the 160,000 immediately to the House.

Kok described the 'observation status' against the ISA 6 as another unfair treatment to them after their two-year detention.

"I was informed that whenever they want to go abroad, they were questioned by immigration officers in an unfriendly manner.

"They were detained for political reason and are not terrorists. So it is not fair to treat them in such a manner," Kok added.