Prove to us that the detainees held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) are still considered a threat to national security, anti-ISA lobbyists told the government today.

Although they will be celebrating Hari Raya in the next few days, the group dressed in black turned up at Bukit Aman this afternoon to 'mourn' the continued detention of some 80 people under the ISA.

A total of 17 detainees allegedly linked to the so-called Kumpulan Militan Malaysia and Jemaah Islamiah (JI) were released over the past two days.

However, the lobbyists claimed this was a " public relations exercise " and argued there was "nothing special" about the releases as the 17 had been held without trial.

They also grilled the government over its standard used in releasing the detainees.

"Thirty-eight (out of the 80-odd detainees) are alleged JI detainees, whose detention was based on the same allegations of those released," said Abolish ISA Movement chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh ( left in photo ) after submitting a memorandum to Bukit Aman today.

"Why is the government being so selective in releasing detainees who were accused of committing the same 'crime'?" he asked.

Do more good during Ramadan

The movement, a coalition comprising 83 civil society groups, reiterated its call for the security act which allows indefinite detention without trial to be abolished as proposed by a government-backed human rights commission.

Urging the authorities to free the remaining detainees, Syed Ibrahim asked the government to do more good in the holy month of Ramadan.

The memorandum was received by Bukit Aman public relations official Saipul Anuar, who told the 20-odd anti-lobbyists present that he would try his best to hand over the memorandum to Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan.

As wives of the detainees tried to convey their hope for their husbands' early release to Saipul, he replied politely, "We understand, but different people have different perception...those detained must have committed something wrong."

Asked why no other senior officers could be present to receive the memorandum, Saipul explained that other police officers were busy and that the IGP himself was also not in.

About 20 police personnel kept a watchful eyes throughout the 45-minute gathering while the Bukit Aman gate was closed upon the lobbyists's arrival at the entrance.

Among those who turned up today including ex-ISA detainees Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Ghani Haron, Saari Sungib and Badaruddin Ismail, detainees' families, human rights watchdog Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng and the detainees' lawyer Latheefa Koya.

No response to visit request

Yap described Malaysia as in the "same league with the United States" as he disclosed the government has yet to agree to a visit request from a United Nations special rapporteur on promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

According to the activist, the rapporteur has made the request since the end of last year and his other request for information on the ISA from the Malaysian government has also hit a brick wall.

The handing over of the memorandum ended with a prayer recital led by Ghani.

"There are mothers and children who are crying, there are wives who are waiting for their husbands to return. Release those who have been victimised.

"The decision to free them now is not in the hand of the police or (Prime Minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it is in your hand, Allah," Ghani invoked in his prayer, which prompted a detainee's wife to break down.

The ISA, enacted in 1960 to contain the communist insurgency, later earned notoriety when it was used to clamp down on political dissent.

The Internal Security Ministry holds the discretion to sign the detention or release order of an ISA detainee. The detention order is renewable on a two-year basis but it can be indefinite.

The minister's decision is not subject to judicial review.