Updated version

Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor's wife managed to submit a memorandum seeking the release of her husband and five other detainees to the prime minister at the Umno annual general assembly (AGM) this morning.

Bahirah Tajul Aris together with the wives and uncle of three other detainees had waited for Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is also Umno president to arrive at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur, the venue of the Umno AGM.

"I passed the memorandum to him when he was standing near the flagpole. When I approached him, I introduced myself and told him who my husband is. Mahathir took the memorandum, smiled and nodded," Bahirah told malaysiakini .

Following this, security officers as well as Umno secretary-general Khalil Yaakob told me to leave, she added.

Bahirah said she had tried to make an appointment to see Mahathir and had sent him several letters but did not receive any reply.

However, the wives of ISA detainees Saari Sungib and Lokman Nor Adam, and the uncle of Hishamuddin Rais, failed to hand over similar memorandums to the premier due to the surrounding heavy security.

Acted nobly

The memorandum, signed by the wives and family members of the six ISA detainees, called on Mahathir to immediately and unconditionally release the detainees or to charge them in court if the government has proof of them violating any laws.

"The detention was made without any formal criminal charge or trial in an open court. This is an inhumane act that violates their fundamental rights.

"Malaysia has now entered the 21st century but why is our country still practising laws that were inherited from our one-time colonial masters and detain its citizen without trial?" the memorandum asked.

The memorandum further stated that the detainees are responsible individuals committed towards safeguarding the nation's wealth against transgressions and acts of bribery, and are not common criminals nor enemies of state.

"We have no doubt whatsoever that our husbands have acted nobly, constitutionally, and that they did not violate any laws," their families said in the memorandum.

Militant means

Keadilan leaders Ezam, Saari, Lokman together with Tian Chua and Dr Badrul Amin Bahron are being held at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak for two years since June 2. Also detained is social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

Police chief Norian Mai alleged that the six reformasi activists planned to topple the government through "militant means and violent street demonstrations".

The six were among 10 opposition activists detained by police under the ISA in a crackdown early last month.

Two were released by the police before the end of their initial 60-day investigative period while the Shah Alam High Court ordered the release of the other two on the grounds that their detentions were unlawful.

Case postponed

Meanwhile, Ezam's sedition trial today was rescheduled to Jan 7 next year by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Augustine Paul.

Ezam was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act for a statement made in this year's March 4 edition of Mingguan Malaysia in which he was alleged to have said that he "was planning street demonstrations every day to topple the government".

However, Ezam had refuted the report the next day.

If found guilty, he could be fined RM5,000 or jailed for not less than three years or both. Ezam was brought from the Kamunting detention camp to attend the trial today.