Former MIC branch chairperson Balakrishnan Appala Naidu who ended his hunger strike 12 days ago has landed himself in hospital again - two days after he was discharged from another hospital.

The reason he was warded again is not known but Balakrishnan is said to have not recovered fully from 16 straight days of hunger strike.

Thirumoorthy Appala Naidu, younger brother of Balakrishnan, told malaysiakini when contacted today that he was admitted into the Sultan Aminah General Hospital in Johor Baru late Friday night

"When he ended his hunger strike, there was a slight improvement in his condition. But we asked that he be placed under observation as he was still very weak as he did not consume anything for 16 days.

"When he returned to the detention centre from Kluang Hospital (where he was first warded) last Wednesday, his condition deteriorated," said Thirumoorty.

"We are now awaiting blood test results to ascertain if foul-play was involved," he said, claiming that his brother's condition worsened after an injection - of unknown substance - while in the Kluang hospital.

Balakrishnan has been a Simpang Renggam detainee since April 29 on suspicion of being involved in gangsterism and other vices.

He is held under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969, under which the government detains suspected criminals - without trial - for up to two years.

Release on hold

Balakrishnan's lawyer, M Manoharan, who revealed on Nov 25 that Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar promised his client's release , said today that the release has been on hold temporarily.

"We are still waiting to obtain all the necessary documents asked for by Noh. Since Balakrishnan's condition is not too good, we'll wait for him to get better before proceeding," said Manoharan.

Manoharan's other client, Michael Soosai, who is also a Simpang Renggam detainee, was equally promised a release but the lawyer said he was working on getting both men released at the same time.

Soosai, detained on the same day as Balakrishnan, had on Oct 20 won freedom from the court. However, it was short-lived as he was re-arrested outside the centre compound by district police minutes after his release.

According to Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) statistics, there are a total of 3,899 inmates in Simpang Renggam of whom 1,693 are detainees held without trial and 724 are on remand.