The government should not detain the alleged members of Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) any longer than necessary, and instead charge them in court as soon as possible, urged a Gerakan leader today.

Gerakan vice-president Dr S Vijayaratnam said such a move to bring the detainees to an open court will help to dispel public perceptions of "authoritarianism".

However, he defended the use of the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) in maintaining the peace and serenity that Malaysians have enjoyed thus far, in contrast to the havoc and mayhem in other parts of the world caused by militants.

"The public should appreciate the police's effort and the law of preventive detention in checking and containing religious extremism in the country," said Vijayaratnam in a press statement.

Recently, 10 people, seven of whom were opposition members from PAS, were arrested by police under the ISA for their alleged involvement in several bank robberies, the murder of a political figure from the ruling coalition, and the bombing of a church and a temple.

Among them was Nik Adli Nik Abdul Aziz, the son of Kelantan Mentri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who had been identified by police as the group leader since 1999.

The arrests came under fire from opposition parties and civil groups who claimed that the government was creating a false impression of "Islamic fundamentalist threat" but the government maintained that the arrests were to stop militant activities in order to allay investors' fear.

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