Anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) campaigners want the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to be more aggressive in taking up their cause.

The lobby has sought the commission's intervention in securing the release of 19 detainees, whose detention orders will expire by March. They were all held four years ago on suspicion of having connections with the Islamic Southeast Asian terror group, Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

At a meeting at Suhakam's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Abolish ISA Movement head Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh criticised the commission for not doing enough to protect the rights of ISA detainees.

"We are bored with hearing the government's excuse that those detained are terrorists. Similarly, we are also bored with Suhakam's response that these cases are beyond its authority," an irked Syed Ibrahim said.

"We realise Suhakam's efforts in repealing the ISA have been ignored by the government. However, Malaysians want Suhakam to double its efforts to defend its reputation and dignity."

Nashita Md Noor, an activist from the ISA detainees' family support group, expressed the same sentiment, saying the detainees' wives are "bored and reluctant" to seek the commission's help due to lack of progress over previous appeals.

Obstacles faced

Commissioner Dr Abdul Monir Yaacob, who was present, explained that Suhakam has tried its best to solve the complaints received, but that it sometimes runs into obstacles because of lack of cooperation by relevant officials.

For instance, when certain ISA detainees' families complained last year they could not meet with their family members freely during the recent Hari Raya visit, Suhakam had requested to meet with the detention camp's director. However, the camp only assigned a junior official to meet the delegation.

Responding, Syed Ibrahim urged the commission to show that it is capable of defending human rights. He also told the commission to seek amendment of regulations so that Suhakam is no longer hampered in discharging its duties.

Abdul Monir replied: "There is no other path available. We are bound by the current regulations. We see the complaints we have received as urgent, but (the authorities) delegate officials who can't make decisions to deal with us. We can't convince the highest authorities."

He did not elaborate on how the commission would deal with such a situation.

Wife disappointed

A detainee's wife Fadlon Abu Bakar, 36, expressed disappointment after the hour-long meeting, saying she had accompanied other detainees' families to Suhakam five or six times but that "nothing is being seen to be done" for them.

"They still say they must follow all the rules. I am disappointed. If not for the fact that I had to accompany another detainee's wife, I would not have come at all today," said the kindergarten teacher, with five children aged between five and 12.

Her husband, Shukri Omar Talib, was detained four years ago with the detention order expiring on Feb 22. Such orders are issued on a two-year basis but can be renewed indefinitely at the discretion of the internal security minister.

The other detainees whose detention orders will expire between January and March are Yazid Sufaat, Mohd Sha Sarijan, Abdul Samad Shukri, Ahmad Sajuli Abdul Rahman, Ahmad Yani Ismail, Suhaimi Moktar, Syahrial Sirin, Mohd Faiq Hafidh, Dr Abdullah Daud, Muhammad Ismail Anuwarul, Shahril Hat and Muhammad Kadar.

Some 100 ISA detainees are being held at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak. Most were detained over alleged terrorism activities, but some are being held for alleged involvement in forgery of identification card or travel documents.