The Chinese New Year festive mood was extended to a protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA) as demonstrators yesterday presented the Malaysian Consul-General in Hong Kong with a giant 'ang pow' containing demands to free or charge two suspected terrorists being held under the security law here.

The demonstration outside the Malaysia Consulate-General office was organised by human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI).

In a press statement, AI said Ahmad Yani Ismail and Abdul Samad Shukri Mohamad should be charged in court or released from indefinite detention without trial.

The pair were first arrested on Dec 29, 2001 under Section 73 of the ISA for alleged involvement in local militant group, Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, but were later issued with two-year detention orders on grounds that they were members of regional terror network, Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

Although the detainees have denied the allegations and filed habeas corpus applications seeking their release, the courts are only allowed to look into possible procedural defects in their arrest and detention but not question the reasons given by the home minister to justify the orders.

A decision for their court application is due next month before the expiry of the pair's detention order on Feb 22.

"Regardless of their involvement or otherwise, the detainees are being denied their right to defend themselves in a court of law," said AI.

The statement was jointly endorsed by the Hong Kong-based Asia Human Rights Commissions, Asian Students Association, Asian Pacific Mission for Migrants and Association of Indonesia Labour.

Violates human rights

Amnesty reiterated its opposition to the ISA, saying that the legislation which allows detention without trial violates internationally recognised human rights standards.

"For decades, Malaysia has received international criticism in relation to its security legislation particularly the ISA. The legislation has been used against people peacefully expressing their religious and political beliefs.

"However, since the attacks on the United States on Sept 11, 2001, governments that were once critical of such legislation have suddenly fallen silent. Having enacted similar security legislation in their own countries, they can no longer speak out for the protection of fundamental human rights in Malaysia," it added.

Human rights activists in Hong Kong have regularly protested against the Malaysian government's use of the controversial security law.

Last April, 40 people marched to the Malaysian consulate in the island's Wan Chai district to call for the release of six reformasi activists who were held under ISA. The six have since been released.