An Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee was allowed to visit his son who has been diagnosed with mental illness resulting from the stress caused by his father's detention.

Abdul Samad Shukri Mohamad (left) was brought to the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) psychiatric ward by prison authorities to see his son Abdul Muaz, 18.

The Jemaah Islamiah (JI) suspect also spent an hour with his son yesterday following an urgent application by his lawyers.

According to the psychiatry department, the first-year matriculation student was admitted for treatment at the hospital three days ago.

"The mental illness that he is suffering from is serious and it is triggered by the mental stress caused by his father's detention under the ISA. The mental stress was initially not clearly noticed by his family members but after some time, his situation worsened when the stress factor was not relieved.

"Abdul Muaz has been given sick leave and he is forbidden from continuing his studies until he has recovered," said a letter signed by psychiatry department head Prof Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom, a copy of which was made available yesterday to malaysiakini.

Abdul Samad, 44, has been detained under the security law since Dec 29, 2001. Initially arrested on grounds that he was involved in Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), the police later claimed that he was a JI member.

He has since filed a habeas corpus application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court for his detention to be declared illegal. A decision is due next month.

New detainees

When met at the hospital this morning, Abdul Samad expressed concern over his inability to see his son more often despite Abdul Muaz's worsening condition.

"My son is in a terrible state. The doctors said I should be here but I don't know if I can visit again. They (prison authorities) have not told me anything. I may have to apply again," he said as he was being led out the hospital after the visitation period.

On his detention, Abdul Samad said the only likely avenue for his release would be if the court decides the habeas corpus application in his favour.

"(The government) may not release me even if my detention order expires (next February). No one I know has been released and new people are being detained at Kamunting," he said.

"Every time the expiry of some detention orders come up, something always happens on the outside to give them reason to detain us further," he added.

Asked about the allegations against him, he said, "That is all concocted by the government. I have not been found guilty of anything."

Over the past month, the government detained several more persons alleged to be members of militant groups.

Khaidir Hadran was arrested under the ISA in Pahang last Sunday on grounds that he is a member of JI. Two other individuals were arrested in Sabah three weeks ago on similar charges.

Mood swings

His wife Masitah Baharom (second from left) said the visits by her husband were not sufficient to help their son recover.

"My son needs his father to be with him longer. He needs to be there for a few days rather than just an hour. He should at least be able to spend a whole day at the hospital to see the our son's (condition)," she said when contacted yesterday.

Masitah said her son has been prone to extreme mood swings for several months now due to his depression.

"He does not talk much and cannot remember things that happened. He has been like this for quite a while, even before the Hari Raya celebrations (in November) but I did not notice it until his condition deteriorated recently," recalled the upset mother of six.

Meanwhile, lawyer Latheefa Koya said family members of several ISA detainees have suffered from similar conditions in the past.

The lawyer said these changes are compounded by the fact that the detainees face indefinite detention without trial.

"We believe that these problems are due to the continued detention of the fathers and husbands.

"Since the detainees are not tried in a court of law, their family members do not know for sure the reasons for the detention," said Latheefa, who has represented several ISA detainees.

Since 2001, the government has detained scores of individuals under the ISA for alleged involvement with militant groups. To date, some 70 of them remain incarcerated at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak.