The government has denied a report that Sri Lankan businessman BSA Tahir has been released from his Internal Security Act (ISA) detention.

"He is still under ISA detention," said Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar ( left ) when contacted yesterday.

Asked if he has been placed under restricted residence, Noh said Tahir is still serving his two-year detention order at the Kamunting camp.

Yesterday, PAS official organ Harakahdaily published a report claiming that Tahir was freed a month ago and has returned to his house in Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur.

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Tahir ( right ) was arrested under the security law on May 28 in Kuala Lumpur and sent straight to the Kamunting detention camp in northern Perak.

He was described as a ' privileged detainee ' since he was not subjected to the usual 60-day interrogation period imposed on those arrested under the ISA.

Tahir is alleged to be a main player in an international network supplying parts to Libya's nuclear weapons programme.

Several names cropped up during the investigation , including that of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son Kamaluddin, who runs the company that liaised with Tahir. The police have since cleared Kamaluddin of any wrongdoing.

However, several opposition leaders and human rights groups have questioned the necessity of arresting Tahir under the ISA when he had initially been cleared by Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar of any involvement in the scandal.

The ISA allows the government to detain individuals suspected of threatening national security for a period of two years without trial.