The police are taking too long to respond to the Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) written request seeking to meet the Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees who were nabbed in a dragnet launched last week, said commissioner Anuar Zainal Abidin today.

Suhakam had sent a letter to the police last Friday, urging them to permit access to the detainees as soon as possible but there has been no response.

"They (police) should tell us yes or no and seven days is definitely too long," said Anuar.

Speaking at a press conference at the commission's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Anuar explained that the letter was simply procedural and there is nothing in the ISA that stops Suhakam, families and lawyers from visiting the detainees.

"The power to visit is with us, we just have to follow procedure, we write in to tell them we will visit and that is all. As far as the ISA is concerned, I have not seen any provision that says that is not allowed," he added.

Section 4(2)(D) of the Suhakam Act states that it is empowered to "visit places of detention in accordance with procedures as prescribed by the lays relating to the places of detention and to make necessary recommendations".

Yesterday at Parliament, Suhakam's chairperson Musa Hitam told malaysiakini that the letter was "only a matter of courtesy and not to seek permission".

"It is like saying assalamualaikum . This is where Asian values comes in," Musa said.

Militant means

In the ISA crackdown last week, seven pro-reformasi activists were arrested for allegedly planing to topple the government via "militant means".

They are Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Keadilan Youth head Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Youth secretary N Gobalakrishnan, activist Abdul Ghani Haroon, 'Black 14' organiser Saari Sungib, malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais and Free Anwar Campaign (freeanwar.com) webmaster Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin.

Another Keadilan leader, Dr Badrul Amin Baharom was detained under the ISA at his house in Kepong at about two this morning. Earlier, commissioner Anuar had met with Badrul's wife Zumrah Husni. ([#1] Another Keadilan leader held under ISA[/#] , March 20)

Following the initial arrests, Suhakam had called for the immediate release of the detainees, incurring criticism from the government, including the prime minister who rebuked the commission and told them that "they are not responsible for the security of this country".

Suhakam has also been lambasted by others for having its hands tied over the ISA issue and failing in its role as a human rights watchdog.

In its maiden annual report, the commission had stated "...that the ISA, which was enacted in 1948 for the sole purpose of fighting the communist insurgency, has outlived its purpose since the Malayan Communist Party laid down its arms in 1989". ([#2] Suhakam report outlines gov't human rights flaws[/#] , March 19)

The report which was handed to Parliament yesterday also recommended that laws which provide for detention without trial be repealed or amended to restrict their scope.