The government has valid reasons to extend the detention of some Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye today.

He was responding to the parliamentary caucus on humans rights, which yesterday called for the immediate release of detainees who have served more than two years.

"The review (of their detention) is always on-going and based on the report from various authorities concerned (it will be decided) whether they are still a threat to national security.

"If they are still a threat, then the detention will be extended," he told reporters at the Parliament's lobby.

The deputy minister also denied that the government was prejudicial in this issue.

Some detainees had questioned the government's move of keeping under lock and key while several alleged senior militant leaders have been let free.

"I don't think there is a distinction of big fish or small fry (among the detainees). (Their release) is all based on the national security threat they pose and the procedure is done properly," he said.

Repatriating foreigners

Chia did not elaborate on the criteria of release apart from saying that the review board will make the recommendations after gathering views from relevant authorities such as the police.

The review board - tasked to recommend the release or further detention of detainees - will then submit its findings to the internal security minister, who makes the final decision.

On the caucus' call to repatriate foreigners held under the ISA, Chia said the government will not do so as their detention is provided for under Malaysian laws.

"For us any threat to national security whether locals or foreigners will be dealt with according to the laws of the country. At the moment, the existing laws allow for this preventive detention and it is within the legal framework.

"If we just release them back to their countries, the question is what will happen after that? I think each and every country has its own way of doing things, if they are arrested in Malaysia then Malaysia will deal with it in its own way rather than passing the buck to other countries," he added.

Chia said his ministry will deal with the caucus' recommendations 'within its established procedures' once the latter makes an official submission of its proposals.

115 under ISA

At present, there are 115 ISA detainees held at the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping, Perak. Sixty-four of them have been held for more than two years.

Among them are 14 Indonesians, three Singaporeans, two Filipinos and one Sri Lankan.

The caucus chief, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the government should not extend the detention of those held for more than two years.

He added that they should be released immediately or charged in court.

The caucus also made several other recommendations such as for financial assistance for detainees' families and improving the condition in Kamunting.

The cross-party caucus made its recommendations after a recent visit to the detention centre.

The ISA provides for detention without trial. It was first crafted to deal with the Communist insurgency but later earned notoriety when it was invoked against political dissidents.