Indian High Com wants info on ISA hunger strike
The Indian High Commission has written in to the Malaysian government for information on its citizen detained under the Internal Security Act who is on a hunger strike.
The Indian High Commission has written in to the Malaysian government for information on its citizen detained under the Internal Security Act who is on a hunger strike.
"We are very concerned about the welfare of Indian nationals , including those in detention.
"On this specific matter, the High Commission has written to the Malaysian government for more information," the high commissioner's office said in response to
Malaysiakini
's email yesterday.
It added that until a reply is obtained from the Malaysian government, the High Commissioner is not in a position to comment further.
The office, however, could not disclose when it had contacted Malaysian officials, saying that it is an "internal matter".
According to the Anti-ISA Movement (GMI), an Indian citizen is among seven ISA detainees who went on a hunger strike for freedom on June 26.
Official data shows that two Indian nationals are currently held under the ISA for alleged human trafficking.
They joined Malaysian detainees Fadzullah Abdul Razak and Razali Kassan who started their hunger strike on June 21. The latter broke his fast last week after being hospitalized.
Indon'sia wants back ISA citizens
Meanwhile, the Indonesian embassy has requested that the Malaysian government release its citizens being held under the ISA.
"We kindly request that they release our prisoners," embassy spokesperson Suryana Sastradiredja.
"They should be released and sent back to Indonesia, especially if they are undocumented."
Suryana, however, admitted that the matter is more complicated if those detained are Malaysian permanent residents, like detainee Mustawan Ahbab.
"In such a case, it depends on the Malaysian government's decision on whether to revoke (his) PR status or not. If the PR status is revoked then (he) should be sent back," he said.
There are six Indonesians held at the Kamunting detention camp
The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) previously mooted repatriating the 25 foreign nationals held under ISA to their respective countries.
There are currently 45 people detained under the ISA for alleged involvement in human trafficking, terrorism and falsifying documents.
The government said that they will have to serve out their detention orders, as per Section 32 of the Security Offences and Safety Measures Act 2012, which replaced the ISA on June 22.
