Human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail who was released from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) today told malaysiakini : "I have no regrets."

Replying to a question on how he felt about his arrest and detention, he also said, "I had a sixth sense that I was going to be released. I knew I was going to be released because they had no grounds for my arrest."

Badaruddin, affectionately known as Pak Din to friends and family, was released unconditionally by the police at the city police contingent headquarters.

Looking pale and sporting a short crop, Badaruddin came out of the building surrounded by his family members. He played a bit with his grandchildren whom he had only seen once after being arrested while having breakfast in Taman Melawati on April 26.

Asked if he had been mistreated or abused while in detention he said no.

"They conducted their investigations very professionally and I was not physically abused while in detention. I was not forced into making any confessions," said Badaruddin.

The interrogations, which lasted three to six hours but with breaks in between, began a day after he was arrested and only ended a day after he was visited by Suhakam, he added.

"I was put in a room that measured 8 by 9 by 12 feet. The ventilation was sufficient and the quality of the food served was good," he said.

The activist with Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) revealed that while visited by Anuar Zainal Abidin of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) last Tuesday, the commissioner had asked him how he could still keep his sense of humour.

Badaruddin said he told Anuar, "I am an optimist and a positive thinker."

When asked if he would be continuing on with his work, he said he would be taking a rest before deciding.

Habeas corpus

Earlier, Badaruddin's wife was told by the police to go over to the city police contingent headquarters for what seemed to be a second visit. His family went into the building at 1.45pm, and emerged with a smiling Badaruddin at 2.10pm.

Badaruddin was the last of the 10 arrested under the ISA in a dragnet launched on April 10. Following the initial seven arrests, Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai said they were detained for allegedly planning to overthrow the government by using "militant" attempts.

Last Saturday, four were sent to a detention centre in Kamunting. They are Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, supreme council member Saari Sungib and social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

Two Keadilan leaders, N Gobalakrishnan and Abdul Ghani Haroon, have been released by a court order last week, which said their detention was unlawful and done in bad faith.

Freeanwar (Freeanwar.com) web manager Raja Petra Kamaruddin was released unconditionally by police last Saturday.

Still in detention are party leaders Dr Badrul Amin Baharom and Lokman Noor Adam.

The appeal against Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Augustine Paul's rejection of the habeas corpus applications of Ezam, Chua, Saari, Hishamuddin will be heard before the Federal Court tomorrow while the habeas corpus applications for Lokman and Badrul are to be heard before the Shah Alam High Court on June 18.