A rights group today urged the government to free 10 people including the son of an opposition leader when their two-year detention orders expire next week.

The 10 were ordered detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial and allows two-year detention orders to be renewed indefinitely. Critics contend it is used to stifle political dissent while the government calls it a necessary tool against terrorism and political violence.

Zaid Kamaruddin, spokesman for the Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI), said a memorandum would be sent to Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urging him not to renew the detention orders of the Islamic militant group members accused of waging a "holy war" here.

A similar memorandum was submitted to Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to check on their condition and to expedite their release.

Good signs

AIM was optimistic that the release in June of six opposition activists also held under ISA for an alleged plot to oust the government was a "good sign" that the 10 would be released from the detention orders.

"If they have committed any offence, let them be brought to court," Zaid ( photo ) said.

Among those detained is Nik Adli, the son of the opposition party PAS' spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is accused of being the ringleader of the militant group detained Sept 23, 2001.

Malaysia has used ISA to round up more than 90 alleged Islamic militants over the past two years, many of whom are accused of membership in Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a Southeast Asian network linked to al-Qaeda.

The United States last weekend listed 10 Malaysians as alleged members of JI and ordered a freeze of their financial assets. - AFP