The High Court's dismissal of the habeas corpus application of the five Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees will not dampen their families' determination to continue battling for their release, said the wife of one of the detainees today.

Bahirah Tajul Arif whose husband Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor was nabbed under the Act two weeks ago, said she was disappointed with Justice Augustine Paul's judgment although the families had expected it.

Bahirah who was speaking to reporters outside the court said the families would continue to battle for the release of their loved ones and strive to create public awareness on the menace of the ISA.

"We will not stop fighting and struggling for their release. We will file an appeal and campaign for the abolishment of the oppressive Act," she said.

The ISA crackdown began with the arrests of seven reformasi activists on April 10 and 11.

Subsequently, five of the detainees, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Youth leaders Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor and Saari Sungib, Free Anwar Campaign (Freeanwar.com) webmaster Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin and social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais filed their habeas corpus application.

A total of nine reformasi activists have been arrested under the ISA to date, the latest being Keadilan youth secretary Lokman Adam who was nabbed yesterday.

More arrests

Bahirah criticised the government for abusing its power, as evident in the ISA dragnet. She also expressed her fear of the possibility of more arrests.

"They took away our loved ones in the name of national security and then they denied us legal access. It has been two weeks and we have yet to hear from them," she said.

Earlier, Justice Paul had ruled that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter as the arrests and the detention of the five were done in accordance with powers vested in the police through the ISA.

Paul added that the ISA provided for preventive detention in the interest of national security.

Also present in court were Saari's wife Aliza Jaffar and DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang.

Judicial review

Lim, who claimed his presence was a "show of support" described the ruling as "most shocking".

He called on the country's legislative body to restore the judicial review on all laws including the controversial ISA.

"The ISA was amended after Operasi Lalang in 1987 to remove its judicial review. Parliament must now return the judicial review on all laws to prevent the abuse of excess ministerial powers," he said.

Lim urged the authorities to refrain from making more ISA arrests, adding that those already detained should be freed if there is no sufficient evidence linking them to the crimes alleged by the police.

"If they are really involved in militant violence since two and a half years ago, charge them in court. In the absence of evidence, they should be released," he said.