Mother's Day was celebrated with a different note yesterday by a group of mothers who organised a gathering called 'Mothers Against ISA' to protest against the recent Internal Security Act arrests of several opposition leaders and human rights activists.

The gathering, at Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur was attended by about 300 people including detained human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail's family.

Organiser Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj, who is head of Jemaah Islam Malaysia (JIM)'s women section, said that the recent arrests and subsequent detention was a political move by the authorities to wipe out any pro-active efforts by Malaysians who wish to see "promising changes in their motherland".

"The ISA detainees are heroes and jewels in the eyes of their mothers. These very mothers have nourished, cherished and nurtured their young ones to grow up to be men of dignity, courage and bravery," said Harlina.

She quoted the Arabic expression that a mother is the first school for children, and the saying by Napoleon Bonaparte that the hand that rocks the cradle, rocks the world.

Mothers and wives of those detained under ISA are not expecting bouquets of carnations on this special day, she added.

"We take pride in the amazing, exceptional fighting spirit and steadfastness of these mothers and wives. They long to be with their sons and husbands, she said, adding that "a harmonious Malaysia without ISA is their ultimate dream".

ISA detainee Badaruddin Ismail's daughter told the crowd about how the family misses him while her mother stood by.

Creating awareness

"We also invited the wives and mothers of other detainees but they were not able to make it as they had gone to Ipoh to do the road show organised by the Abolish ISA Movement," said organiser Endok Sempo.

Endok said last night's event was the second part of a series against ISA that the JIM women section is organising.

"The first was in Malacca about a fortnight ago. The next will be in Kelantan and Terengganu," she said. "The campaign is to highlight the sufferings of mothers and wives of those detained and also to create more awareness on the need to abolish ISA.

In a police crackdown launched early April, 10 political leaders and human rights activists were detained under the ISA. Following the initial seven arrests, police said the detainees were planning to topple the government via militant means.

Those detained are Keadilan leaders Tian Chua and Dr Badrul Amin Baharom; party Youth leaders Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, N Gobalakrishnan, Abdul Ghani Haroon and Lokman Noor Adam, webmaster of Free Anwar Campaign website (Freeanwar.com) Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin; human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail; and social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.