The Anti ISA Movement (GMI) has urged former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former inspector-general of police (IGP) Norian Mai to apologise over the authorities’ unlawful detention of five activists who were awarded damages in excess of RM4 million yesterday.

While welcoming the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision, GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the two individuals were responsible for the unlawful detention and rough tactics imposed on the detainees.

“The ISA law would only function if the home minister gave the go-ahead order to the police in making the detention possible. This power was abused by Abdullah, who was formerly the home minister, and Norian who was the then-IGP in detaining them for being a threat to Barisan Nasional at that time,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday, the five activists, some of whom are now politicians - comprising of PAS’ Hulu Selangor  assemblyperson Saari Sungib, PKR NONE supreme council member Badrulamin Bahrom, and PKR’s Batu MP Chua Tian Chang or better known as Tian Chua, along with Hishamuddin Rais ( left ) and Badaruddin Ismail - were awarded the compensation over their unlawful detention.

They were detained by the police for being a threat to national security where they were alleged to possess rocket launchers and Molotov cocktails and labelled as terrorists.

However, Norian, in his testimony in court said his press statement over their arrest in 2001 was misunderstood as he did not mean to describe them as militants but inclining to use violence.

‘Decision proves GMI’s assertions are true’

Syed Ibrahim said the court decision only proves GMI’s previous allegations that the detention was not only unlawful but also cruel, as they described being asked to change their clothing in front of the police, made to walk barefoot into a filthy toilet, interrogated for hours, and for the first few days of detention, the Muslims among them were not allowed to perform their prayers.

He said in reviewing the court decision, could the home minister deny the cruelty on the ISA detainees?

azlan “The decision reflects that the charges against them and possibly on other ISA detainees were questionable. The decision yesterday may result in more ISA detainees coming forward and suing the government unless this is rectified further.”

The GMI chairperson said till today the movement has consistently exposed the cruelty of detention without trial as the ministry continues to choose to remain quiet.

He also sought the release of the other remaining ISA detainees, compensation to be paid to them and that the Kamunting camp should be closed down.

 

“One way to correct the situation and provide a remedy is to release the ISA detainees and pay ample compensation for the past atrocities. They should also close Kamunting as it is a symbol of the government’s cruelty,” said Syed Ibrahim.