The recent arrests under the Internal Security Act of 10 people allegedly involved in an Islamic militant group were to create an impression of a "fundamentalist threat", said an opposition leader who is being detained under the same controversial security law.

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, in a letter from the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak, condemned the government for arresting the 10, calling it a "sinister" move by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to ensure his political survival.

"Instead of correcting the misconception about Islam among the non-Muslims, the regime led by Mahathir constantly demonises the religion," he said.

"The purpose is nothing but to create public fear against Islam," he added in the letter to human rights organisation Suaram. A copy of the letter, dated Aug 9, was obtained by malaysiakini today.

Chua was among the 10 reformasi activists and opposition leaders arrested during the ISA crackdown in April. Four were subsequently released but the remaining six were sent to Kamunting to serve a two-year detention order by the home affairs minister.

Besides Chua, the others detained in Kamunting are Keadilan leaders Saari Sungib, Dr Badrul Amin Bahron, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Nor Adam; and social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

They were said to have attempted to obtain assistance from foreign separatist groups to topple the government via militant means, such as the use of Molotov cocktails and grenade launchers.

Over the past couple of weeks, police had arrested yet another 10 people, seven of whom are PAS members, said to be involved in the Malaysian Mujahideen Group (KMM).

Among those arrested was Nik Adli Nik Aziz, the son of Kelantan Mentri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai was reported to have said Nik Adli had received militant training abroad and fought the Russian army in the Afghanistan war during early 1980s.

Police have identified Nik Adli as the KMM chief since 1999 and alleged that the group was responsible for bank robberies, the murder of a Barisan Nasional state assembly representative, and several religion-motivated tragedies in the country.

Propaganda

However, Chua questioned the rationale behind the arrests which "came late by about 10 years".

"Even if they had been to Pakistan or Afghanistan, there is no sign of any subversive Islamic militant trend in this country," he said.

Chua also urged members of the public not to fall prey to the propaganda by the authorities.

"The government-controlled media have been playing up the issue," he said.

"It is a plot to tell human rights groups in the West that the use of the ISA is justified, with the government trying to make it seem like it is an effort to prevent the emergence of a Taliban-like regime," added Chua.

He also warned that the latest ISA arrests may exacerbate Malaysia's existing image problems in the international community, adding that this will do a lot of harm to the country's economy.

"Without improvement in the human rights condition, the diplomatic and trade relations with foreign countries will remain tainted and the country will not be able to attract long-term investments nor ensure a smooth economic recovery process," he said.

Chua is in his 127th day of detention after being arrested on April 10 under the ISA, which allows detention without trial.