Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail should take the policy decision not to appeal against the landmark RM2.5 million awarded to ex-ISA detainee Abdul Malek Hussin, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said.

He said the High Court judgment given by Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus has set an example and a clear message that the era of human rights has arrived.

"A decision by Abdul Gani to appeal against the decision can only mean that the attorney-general himself and the government he represents is yet to 'walk the talk' of respect for human rights.

(They are) still condoning human rights violations by the police and public servants, making nonsense not only of the establishment of Suhakam (Human Rights Commission) but also of Malaysia's calls for respect for human rights in international forums like the human rights violations and atrocities by the Burmese military junta," he added in a statement today.

On Thursday, Abdul Malek won a rare law suit against the government over his arrest and torture in 1998, and was awarded RM2.5 million in damages.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus in a landmark decision ruled that Abdul Malek's arrest at the height of the reformasi demonstrations was unlawful and that he was assaulted under custody.

Abdul Malek was detained under the draconian security law for 57 days before he was released without being charged.

He filed his civil suit in March 1999, naming special branch officer Borhan Daud, the then Inspector General of Police Abdul Rahim Noor and the government as respondents.

'Long in coming'

Abdul Malek had previously testified that he was stripped naked in an air-conditioned room, blindfolded during interrogation, physically assaulted up to 60 times, beaten until he was unconscious, forced to drink urine and subjected to sexual abuse.

He also testified that he saw Rahim punching him at his chin in the interrogation room when his blindfold accidentally dropped.

Hishamuddin in his strongly-worded 41 page judgment said the "behaviour of the defendants is inhumane, cruel and despicable as the plaintiff was not just arrested and detained unlawfully for 57 days but was also subjected to a vile assault, unspeakable humiliation, and prolonged physical and mental ill-treatment".

Lim opined that Hishammudin's judgment has been "long in coming, as human rights abuses in the form of physical violence and other forms of torture [...] must be condemned in no uncertain terms and stopped forthwith."

He also called for the ISA which allows for indefinite detention without trial to be repealed.

"The Internal Security Act in allowing indefinite detention without trial is itself a gross violation of human rights and should be repealed without delay as there are adequate laws to deal with national security and law and order in the country," Lim added.