ISA detainees book - a 'warning to the police'
ISA detainee Saari Sungib's book entitled Suara dari Kamunting (Voice from Kamunting), which details the sufferings he endured under police detention, was released today.
At the launching ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, his wife Arliza Jaafar said the book highlights her husband's sufferings at the hands of the police during his 54-day detention before he was sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.
The book was written "to expose the abuse of the Internal Security Act by the police Special Branch and the government," she added.
"We hope that this book will serve as a warning to the police as well as the government not to go beyond the law. We also hope this book will be distributed widely," she said.
The content is produced from Saari's representations before an ISA review committee to appeal his release.
ISA detainee Saari Sungib's book entitled Suara dari Kamunting (Voice from Kamunting), which details the sufferings he endured under police detention, was released today.
At the launching ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, his wife Arliza Jaafar said the book highlights her husband's sufferings at the hands of the police during his 54-day detention before he was sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.
The book was written "to expose the abuse of the Internal Security Act by the police Special Branch and the government," she added.
"We hope that this book will serve as a warning to the police as well as the government not to go beyond the law. We also hope this book will be distributed widely," she said.
The content is produced from Saari's representations before an ISA review committee to appeal his release.
In his book, Saari alleged that he was arrested not because of allegations of involvement in militant activities but because of his political beliefs.
"The interrogations I faced during the 54-day detention period were aimed at making me leave Keadilan, destroying my support for the Barisan Alternatif and ensuring that I do not threaten the political hegemony of Umno and the Barisan Nasional," Saari said.
He also alleged that Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's signing of his two-year detention was politically based.
Proceeds
Meanwhile, Arliza said a total of 5,000 copies have been printed, priced at RM10 each.
"The proceeds will go to the Anti-ISA Movement and the support of my children," Arliza said.
Also present were Keadilan parliamentarian for Kemaman Abdul Rahman Yusof and co-ordinator for the Anti-ISA movement Zaid Kamaruddin.
A Keadilan supreme council member, Saari was arrested together with nine other Keadilan and reformasi activists on April 10 for their alleged involvement in a militant attempt to overthrow the government.
While five have been released, Saari, together with party leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Nor Adam and malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais, were sent to Kamunting under a two-year detention order last June.
One of those released, FreeAnwar.com webmaster Raja Petra Kamarudin also wrote a book about his 52-day experience under police custody, entitled From prince to prisoner , launched on Aug 19.
