The recent 10 arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA) are political in nature, said Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

"How can the arrests not be political when the ISA itself is a political tool?" he said, countering the statements by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in press reports today.

"If the arrests are not political, then things like bail for the accused, legal services for the accused, and a chance for the case to be reviewed by a court should be present. When all these are absent, then it certainly smacks of a political agenda behind the arrests," he said when met at a luncheon for a group of foreign investors in Kota Bharu today.

Last Saturday, Nik Aziz's son, Nik Adli, a 34-year-old religious school teacher, was arrested under the ISA on grounds of "national security", according to police.

On the same day, Mohd Lothfi Ariffin of Kg Sidek Kupang, Kedah, was arrested.

Prior to that, eight others were arrested for their alleged involvement in the Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM).

Police have linked KMM with the 'Jihad 9' group that was said to be responsible for a spate of robberies to finance a 'holy war' as well as the murder of former Lunas state assembly representative Dr Joe Fernandez.

Four of the eight arrested were PAS members - namely, Sungai Bemut Youth chief Noor Ashid Sakip, Larut Youth chief Ahmad Tajuddin Abu Bakar and Terengganu Youth activists Solehan Abdul Ghaffar and Alias Ngah.

The others were Zainun Ismail of Baling, Kedah; Abu Bakar Che Doi of Kuala Muda, Kedah; Asfawani Abdullah of Kuala Ketil, Kedah; and Ahmad Pozi Darman of Hulu Tiram, Johor.

'Don't use the ISA'

Nik Aziz, who is also the PAS spiritual adviser, added that his opinion of the ISA is shared by many sections of Malaysian society.

"Society endorses and gives the police widespread approval when they arrest drug runners and other criminals. And parents even turn in their own children to the police when they know that their children had committed a crime.

"But the same cannot be said for the ISA. Every time it is used to arrest someone, there is widespread agitation and unease within society. There will be demonstrations against the arrests as a result of a significant objection to the ISA," he said, adding that Malaysia has also been globally censured for having the draconian law which allows indefinite detention without trial.

According to the PAS spiritual adviser, the police could have used 'normal' methods of investigation.

"You can call my son over to question him. You can investigate or interrogate all you want, but don't use the ISA.

"I object to the ISA, regardless of whether it is used on my son or other people's children," Nik Aziz said.

Government's insecurity

On the purported link between PAS and the Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), Nik Aziz said the question is whether KMM itself exists or is a figment of the government's imagination.

"Just like (DAP's Lim) Kit Siang said the other day, if the KMM is something 'created' out of nothing, then there is a violation of human rights."

Nik Aziz said the KMM brouhaha is just another manifestation of the present government's insecurity.

"When the Al-Ma'unah issue surfaced, they tried to link it with PAS. Now they try KMM on us," he said.