An opposition leader today predicted that the detention of eight people under the Internal Security Act (ISA) recently could be extended beyond 60 days following statements made by national leaders and government officials.

"The eight arrested under the ISA are most likely to be formally detained for two years after the initial 60-day period expires as the political decision seems to have been made at the highest level," said DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang in a statement.

He said that while Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Heung admitted in an April 20 Star report that Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had no knowledge of the arrests, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had earlier said that he was willing to break from 'international norms' to maintain national security.

Chor also said in the same report that 'if you saw the evidence collected by the police against these eight people, you would surely be afraid and shocked as massive demonstrations were being planned to make it seem that the country would be in a continuous state of turmoil'.

"This statement is justification not just for the detention of the eight under the ISA for 60 days for police interrogation, but also for the Home Minister to order their two-year detention under the ISA," Lim said.

'ISA country'

On April 10 and 11, seven pro-reformasi activists were detained for allegedly planning to overthrow the government via militant means.

They are Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, party Youth leaders Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, N Gobalakrishnan, Abdul Ghani Haroon and Saari Sungib, Free Anwar Campaign (Freeanwar.com) webmaster Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin and social activist-cum-malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

Another Keadilan leader, Dr Badrul Amin Baharom was detained last Friday.

Lim also warned that Malaysia could well degenerate into an 'ISA country' following statements made by government officials that the ISA could be applied for various offences.

The Star daily today reported Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zin as saying that the government might use the ISA on politicians who indulge in money politics.

Recently, the Prime Minister Religious Affairs Advisor, Abdul Hamid Othman, said the ISA may be used against Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang for his 'religious decree' which called on Muslims to fight Umno for allegedly upholding and practising unIslamic laws.

"How convenient it will be for the government if it could (put in) 'cold storage' all other laws and just resort to one law, the ISA, to deal with all its problems with government political leaders being the prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one," said Lim.

Tackle corruption

In a separate statement, Lim urged Mahathir to fully tackle the issue of corruption by making Information Minister Khalil Yaakob step down until he is cleared by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Beserah state assembly representative Fauzi Abdul Rahman accused Khalil last month of misappropriating state resources when the latter served as the Pahang Mentri Besar.

Mahathir had earlier announced in the media over the weekend that the rich may not be allowed contest for high-level posts in Umno.

Lim stated for Mahathir to demonstrate his seriousness and commitment to root out corruption in politics, he should "introduce a law in Parliament requiring periodic public declarations of assets by all political office- holders".

Lim also suggested that the ACA be elevated to an independent agency answerable only to Parliament.