Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Idris Salim is said to have entered his fifth day of 'hunger strike' today to mark his protest against the Kamunting detention camp authority for refusing him food brought by his mother.

According to Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) chairperson Zaid Kamaruddin, the detainee started the fast on Tuesday after he was denied the food brought by his mother, Che Mah Abdullah, on Sunday.

Under current rules, visitors are not allowed to bring in food for the detainees except on special occasions such as Hari Raya.

Che Mah brought the food for her son on Sunday, her first visit after Raya as she was unable to visit him during the festive occasion. But the camp wardens did not allow the mother and son to enjoy the food together.

According to Zaid's statement, the mother was ordered to leave the food for the wardens. AIM further claimed that when Idris asked for the food from the wardens later, he was given the leftover.

Detainee demands what?

Contacted today, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) official Jamaludin Othman confirmed Idris's protest after a check with the camp authority.

"However I was told that the ISA detainee only refused food provided by the camp but he is buying the food from the canteen," the Suhakam's complaints and inquiries division assistant secretary said, adding that he will discuss the matter with the commission.

Zaid also asked Suhakam to intervene on behalf on Idris.

"Right now we don't know what is the detainee's demand. It is better for Suhakam to act as a mediator and bring both parties together to iron it out," he said when contacted.

Idris was arrested on March 14, 2002 for alleged involvement with the regional terror group, the Jemaah Islamiah (JI). He was a lecturer at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai, Johor.