Was there a hidden agenda behind the prominent media coverage of a Malaysian being allegedly involved in a plot to crash a plane into a Los Angeles skyscraper?

This is the question raised by the Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The plot was revealed by US President George W Bush in a speech earlier this week, prompting a media blitz here.

The Malaysian alleged to be involved in the plot is 38-year-old engineer Zaini Zakaria. He has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since 2002 over his alleged ties with regional terror organisation Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

JI is said to be linked to the al-Qaeda network helmed by Osama bin Laden, which has been blamed for the Sept 11 attacks.

"The disclosure of such a plot has not only violated the fundamental rights of Zaini and his family but has also jeopardised the circumstances of current ISA detainees (linked to terror activities)," said AIM chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (photo: middle).

"There are 36 detainees whose second detention order (four years) is expiring this year. Is the (media coverage on the) revelation a conspiracy to justify their further detention ?" he asked.

According to reports, Zaini was among three men trained by the al-Qaeda to take part in the attack against Los Angeles tallest building, the US Bank Tower, but the plan never materialised.

He was alleged to have told Malaysian officials later that he withdrew from the plot after witnessing the Sept 11 attacks.

No proof

Meanwhile, Syed Ibrahim said the ISA is an instrument which can be conveniently used to detain suspects as the authorities do not have to furnish any proof.

"Thus, proof and plots can be invented," he stressed.

According to him, Bush's speech was an attempt to divert international attention from the incidents of inhumane treatment of detainees by the US government in Guantanamo Bay and the Abu Ghraib prison.

However, he said AIM does not has plan to submit a protest note to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur but expressed hope that the Malaysian government would address its concerns.

He also reiterated AIM's call to free or charge ISA detainees in court.

Check the facts

Also present at the press conference was Zaini's counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad.

He said Bush's statement was highly questionable due to his track record, referring to the president's claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

"Are we so gullible to believe what is said by Bush? Should we accept it without questioning the motive? There is no merit in the allegation and it will be wrong for us to simply accept it," he said.

Another lawyer present, Latheefa Koya, urged media to be cautious in reporting the issue and appealed for a more balanced coverage.

She said that media reports often highlight the terrorist activities of the detainees as claimed by the authorities.

"Many of the detainees' families could not reply to such allegations because they come under intense pressures - put on them by the police Special Branch - from speaking up. I hope the media will bear this in mind," she added.