The Abolish Internal Security Act Movement (AIM) urged the government to release four terror suspects whose two-year detention order under the security law expires today.

It also called on the authorities to free a Filipino national Ashraf Barretto Kunting, whom AIM claimed was arrested when he attended a conference here in 2001 on the invitation of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin.

The four whose detention orders expires today were Muhamad Zulkifli Mohamad Zakaria, Khairuddin Saad, Muhamad Zulkepli Md Isa and Mat Salleh Said. They were arrested for allegedly being involved in the Malaysian Mujahiddin Group (KMM).

KMM is said to be linked to the regional terror network Jemaah Ismiah (JI), which has been blamed for the bombings in Bali and Jakarta.

AIM chairperson Zaid Kamaruddin urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also home minister, not to renew the detainees detention orders.

"It is enough for them and their families. If (Abdullah) believes they are guilty, bring them to court," he told representatives from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) during a meeting at the commission's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

On the detained Filipino national, Zaid questioned the authorities' grounds for arresting him since the former represented a legitimate organisation in his country.

He added that Ashraf's arrest was known only recently after a former ISA detainee informed them about it.

The detainee, who was not identified, had met the Filipino during their incarceration at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak.

Apart from the five, AIM also called for the release of a Malaysian permanent resident Ahmadi Asab, who was detained under the ISA two years ago on terror-related charges.

Zaid said since two of his 'counterparts' had been released, Ahmadi should be freed as well.

Lift conditions

Meanwhile, AIM secretary Yap Swee Seng said the government should lift the conditions imposed on the 15 alleged Al-Ma'unah members, who were released last Monday.

He said conditions such as restricted residency, the need to report to the police on a weekly basis and being barred from leaving their homes between 9pm and 6am has caused much difficulty to the detainees.

Elaborating, he added that the families of many of these ex-detainees have moved houses or states but the restrictions were based on the old addresses.

Furthermore, he said these restrictions have also made it difficult for the detainees to seek employment.

"We call on Suhakam to intervene and investigate the violation of human rights and assist these former detainees to get back their old jobs by writing letters to their former employers to support them," said Yap, who was also present at the 90-minute meeting.

The movement also submitted a memorandum detailing their grouses to the commission.

Suhakam secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria, who received the memorandum, said he would bring the matter to the attention of the commissioners.

He added that the commission will also try to arrange a meeting between Kamunting detention camp officials and the detainees by this month to discuss the complaints raised by the detainees's families.

Kamaruddin was referring to the complaint highlighted during a dialogue with the families that camp authorities have tighten the rules regarding visitation.

Also present at this morning's meeting were the families of current detainees and ex-detainees.

Deputy Home Ministers Chor Chee Heung and Zainal Abidin Zin could not be reached for comment despite numerous attempts.

Based on figures released by the National Economic Action Council last June, at least 58 alleged JI members and 18 alleged KMM members remain in detention under the ISA.

Detention extended

Meanwhile, in a related development, malaysiakini was informed that the detention order of one of the four detainees, Mat Salleh Said, had been extended by another two years.

When contacted later in the day, Yap said he was informed of this latest development by Mat Salleh's wife who had visited him at the detention centre this morning.

However the status of the remaining three remains unknown.