The Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI) has decried the New Straits Times decision to publish articles in support of the Internal Security Act (ISA), three days in a row.

At a press conference today, GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the articles were promoting the ISA ostensibly to fight human trafficking.

NONE "It is as though they are trying to justify the revival of the ISA," said Syed Ibrahim ( left ).

Since Sept 10, the daily has been highlighting how human traffickers were still able to operate by taking advantage of legal loopholes in the Human Trafficking Act 2007, allowing them to escape prosecution.

The report also claimed that suspected human traffickers under ISA detention were still able to operate behind bars.

Syed Ibrahim said that this claim was dubious because visits and other communications are monitored closely by prison authorities.

“How could a fully monitored telephone call be able to facilitate criminal activities when every suspected ‘high risk’ phone call will be terminated by the detention officer,” said Syed Ibrahim, who often arranges family visits for detainees.

One year on, still 30 detained

He added that the NST report should be viewed seriously as they imply that ISA detainees are criminals, despite never being put on trial.

“Every step taken to investigate and prosecute a criminal must be done in accordance with the law and shall respect the basic fundamental rights and civil liberties,” he said.

Syed Ibrahim also noted that it was now a year since Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's famous vow to abolish the ISA but there are still 30 detainees being held at the Kamunting detention centre.

NONE Meanwhile, former detainee Fadzullah Abdul Razak ( right ) cautioned that others still in detention might only be released right before the general election.

"They are political hostages. They will only be released if it somehow benefits the government," he said.

Along with 11 others, Fadzullah was released on Aug 17, two days before the major Muslim celebration of Hari Raya.

He and several other detainees had been on a hunger strike protesting against the lengthy delay in handing them their freedom despite the law having been repealed.

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