The court victory of the five former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees in winning damages for their detention in 2001 serves as a warning to the authorities, says one of them, Batu MP Tian Chua.

"The compensation is merely a token to reprimand the authorities. Our victory serves as a stern warning that human dignity and civil liberty cannot be taken lightly," Chua told Malaysiakini this evening.

Happy with today’s Court of Appeal judgment, he said the victory was not just for the five of them, but for everyone who had supported the movement against detention without trial.

“It is also a victory for the human rights movement. We thank them because they have kept the issue alive.

However, Chua said, the compensation given to them would not be sufficient to repay their supporters’ contributions.

'It's been a long struggle'

"It has been a long struggle and many have contributed. The reward is not so much on the monetary aspect,” he said.

Chua, as well as Hulu Klang assemblyperson Saari Sungib, activists Hishamuddin Rais, former PKR supreme council member Badrul Amin Baharon and Badaruddin Ismail were today awarded damages totalling RM4.5 million for their detention in 2001.

This follows the Court of Appeal partially upholding the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision. However, the court reduced the quantum of damages for their detention from RM15,000 a day to RM10,000 a day.

The five had sued former inspector-general of police Norian Mai for defaming them by implying they were terrorists. Besides Norian, the then-home minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the government were also named as defendants.

Chua also said the liberty everyone enjoys today without the ISA is an achievement that has to be defended.

“I hope no such law that allows detention without trial is reinstated by the government,” he said.

Saari ( left ), meanwhile, said that money was only secondary, although it is important to prove that they we were not in the wrong.

Hope victory will serve as a lesson to all

Saari also hoped that their victory would serve as a lesson to all.

“All in all, I am satisfied (with the award). I hope my family members will be better fighters than me and will continue to be consistent in their struggles,” he said.

Asked whether it was all worth the fight, Badaruddin said their fight had been justified with the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Although the court had reduced the quantum of damages for their detention from RM15,000 a day to RM10,000 a day, Badaruddin said the quantum was still the highest in the country to date.

However, he said, said he would receive less than RM1 million as he was only imprisoned for 41 days.

As to whether he would do it “all over again”, Badaruddin ( left ) said that he had no qualms about it.

“All of us have broken the wall of fear, so come what may…”

Commenting on the Court of Appeal’s decision, Badrul said it was merely a worldly reward, and he firmly believes that the rewards in the hereafter would be better.

“What’s important is that our names are cleared. We are not terrorists as what we have been accused of.

“Our fight is defending those who have been wronged. We just want change for the better by eliminating leaders who engage in corruption and slander.

“We are not bad people, our victory is a victory for the rakyat who are against oppression,’ Badrul added.

He also expressed hope that the rakyat would “open their eyes” and join their fight, and also thanked their lawyers who had been “patient and dedicated”.

Five former ISA detainees get RM4.5mil award