Ex-ISA inmate held under new security law

In the first arrest under the new law, former Internal Security Act detainee Yazid Sufaat has been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) by the police this afternoon.

According to human rights organisation Suaram, he was taken together with worker Mohd Hilmi Hasim by a police team from federal headquarters Bukit Aman at a canteen in the Jalan Duta court complex around 12.30pm.

Suaram said according to the investigating officer, Yazid was detained under Section 4(1) of Sosma for allegedly promoting terrorist activities.

He was held under ISA in December 2001 and released after seven years. He now operates a cafeteria in the Duta court complex.
The NGO’s statement today also quoted Yazid’s lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri as saying that he and Hilmi are also being held under Section 5(2) of Sosma. This allows the police to detain them for 48 hours without legal counsel. 

“However, the police have yet to inform us in which police station Yazid (left) and his worker would be held,” the statement said. 

After his arrest, Suaram said Yazid and his worker were immediately brought to Yazid’s residence in Taman Bukit Ampang for a search, and it is still ongoing as of 4pm. 

Sosma was gazetted in July last year and supersedes the ISA. It allows detention without trial for up to 28 days. 

“Suaram condemns the police for making an arrest under a law that is against human rights. The right to a fair trial in court is the exclusive right of every Malaysian,” Suaram said.
Draconian laws still in force

It added that the arrest shows that draconian laws are still in force in Malaysia, along with the fact that there are still 23 ISA detainees in detention. 

Previously in an interview with Malaysiakini in March last year, Yazid, who was accused of being involved with al-Qaeda, revealed that he still harbours militant beliefs, and was still in touch with hisformer associates in several terrorist networks. 

In response, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar had said that Yazid has always been under police surveillance. 

In a related development, Ismail told in a press conference today that three unnamed persons - two men and one woman - have been detained under Sosma for terrorism-related offences, and would be investigated under the Penal Code.

According to the IGP, the ages of the men in question are one in his 20s, and the other close to his 50s, while the woman is in her 40s. However, it is unclear at this point whether he was referring to Yazid and Hilmi because he refused to name them.

“They are all our citizens. Malaysian citizens. They were arrested because they are involved in activities that promote terrorism and I believe we will take them to court to charge them... I believe it will be at the Ampang Court,” he said.


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