The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has proposed that all foreign detainees under the Internal Security Act (ISA) be returned to their country of origin.

Its commissioner, James Nayagam, said Suhakam had written a letter to Home Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi for a discussion on the matter.

“All 25 of them requested to be sent home and serve their detention for whatever their offences were, in their own country.

“A review is also necessary, based on what they have divulged to the commission. This is not an easy role for Suhakam,” he told reporters in Taiping today.

Earlier, he led a Suhakam group in a two-hour meeting with the foreign detainees at the Kamunting detention centre.  

Nayagam said Suhakam had also met with embassy and high commission officials, including those of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Iraq and India.

The commission will also hold a round-table discussion with agencies, non-governmental organisations and relevant parties for a follow-up on the proposal, he said.

“Any debate on the ISA detainees must be by mutual discussion as it involves their freedom,” he added.

On the hunger strike by some detainees at the centre recently, he said it had ceased as the detainees were still hopeful of Suhakam’s efforts.

Forty-five ISA detainees, including 20 locals, are still undergoing rehabilitation at the centre.

- Bernama