Lawyer claims new Kamunting structures hint more arrests

Hishammuddin had said the ISA would be amended, but not repealed. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — A lawyer believes the construction of four new buildings at the Kamunting Detention Camp in northern Perak is proof the government intends to keep using the centre for detentions under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Bar Council Malaysia member Syamsuriatina Ishak said today she had first noticed the construction of the new buildings at the end of last year when she went to visit her clients.

“This shows that the government wants to continue using the ISA,” Syamsuriatina told a press conference when releasing the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) 2010 report.

In the report, GMI said that another 25 people this year were held under the law that allows detention without trial. Last year, it was only 10.

During her recent visit, she observed that one of the double storey blocks had already been completed and currently being used.

She also described the buildings, which looked like gymnasiums, as “new and improved” and could house about 20 people each.

“We feel like it’s just rhetoric that ISA will be amended or abolished since there are new developments going on now with the new blocks being built, additional rooms for detention.

“In Kemta (Kamunting Detention Centre), there used to be (two) single storey blocks, now, there are four double storey blocks with more rooms and better security system that’s for sure,” Syamsuriatina said.

Prisons Department deputy director (security) Supri Hashim said last August that 12 ISA detainees will be transferred to the new block when it is completed this year. He said two blocks of 40 cells were being built to accommodate 120 detainees or three to a cell.

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, the movement’s chairman, said his group will continue to call for the abolishment of detention without trial laws such as the ISA, Emergency Ordinance (EO), Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) and the Restricted Residence Act (RRA).

They are seeking for detainees under such laws to either be released or charged in court, along with immediate closure of the detention centres. The group also demanded public apologies and compensation for the detainees.

The movement’s secretary, Nalini Elumalai, said the ISA had only brought negative international attention to Malaysia.

“The government is very proud to have ISA but if I was the government, I’ll be ashamed of the fact that I torture people under ISA, I detain people without trial... in a more civilised world, you shouldn’t be proud to have such a barbaric law in the country,” she said.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced last year that the ISA will be amended, in effect making room for more reforms for a law considered “draconian” by many parties.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has used the ISA as fodder against the federal government and on Sunday pledged to abolish the Act within 100 days of being voted in as the federal government.

The ISA was originally passed in 1960, 24 hours after the Emergency Regulations Ordinance 1948 Act was repealed. It gives the police powers to arrest and detain anyone up to 60 days without trial.

Since it was enacted, the home minister had been given the power to extend the length of detention indefinitely, up to two years each time.