National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) wants the authorities to allow former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan's family immediate access to visit him in the hospital.

Khairuddin is detained under the Security Offences (Special Measure) Act (Sosma) for allegedly sabotaging the country.

Yesterday, he was hospitalised with a high fever that is suspected to be dengue.

Hakam also condemned Khairuddin's arrest under Sosma, calling the move "oppressive and contrary to the rule of law".

"Sosma is in itself an authoritarian and oppressive piece of legislation that is now being abused to protect a prime minister - who ought to be accountable to the people - from scrutiny," Hakam president Ambiga Sreenevasan (photo) said in a statement.

Sosma is meant for security offences that are "prejudicial to public order in, or the security of the federation or any part thereof", the former Bar Council president said.

As such, she asked how Khairuddin filing reports on 1MDB abroad counts as "prejudicial to the security of the nation".

"They may make some people uncomfortable but that is no basis for an arrest," she said.

'Detention unlawful'

There is even a provision in Sosma which states "no person shall be arrested and detained under this section solely for his political belief or political activity", she said, which would exempt Khairuddin's actions from Sosma.

"In our view therefore, the arrest of Khairuddin is unlawful even within the scope of Sosma," she said.

Khairuddin must therefore be released immediately, she said.

"Enforcement agencies must decide if their role is to serve the rakyat or to protect leaders from answering for their deeds or misdeeds," Ambiga said.

Khairuddin was initially arrested under Section 124C of the Penal Code, for allegedly attempting to commit activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

On Wednesday, he was released but was then re-arrested almost immediately under Section 124K and 124L of the Penal Code, for sabotage and attempting to sabotage the state respectively.

Under Sosma, Khairuddin can be detained without trial for up to 29 days.