January 06, 2008
A wake-up call to Hindus
Oppression in Malaysia
By Prakash Singh, IPS (Retd)
In Malaysia, persons of Indian origin—Hindus, to be precise—have been economically marginalised. They are mostly at the bottom of the ladder. Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution provides special privileges for Malayans only. Politically, they hardly count. They wanted to organise a rally to ventilate their grievances, but were denied permission by the police.
More than two years back, in an article entitled ‘Is Hinduism in Retreat?’, I had defined a Hindu as “basically non-aggressive, not deeply concerned about his places of worship being defiled or even demolished, is not particularly offended by others making fun of his gods and goddesses, does not object to other religions’ preachers converting his flock, and is not greatly exercised over the abduction and molestation of his women and daughters”.
As the years roll by, I am increasingly convinced about the correctness of the definition. If at all any change has to be made, probably the words “non-aggressive” should be replaced by “coward”. It is indeed mortifying that the average Hindu has today lost all pride in his religion and is apologetic about his identity. His religiosity is limited to paying obeisance in the temple and observing meaningless rituals. The objective is essentially to seek forgiveness for the sins committed and blessings for the unfulfilled materialistic desires.
In Malaysia, persons of Indian origin - Hindus, to be precise - have been economically marginalised. They are mostly at the bottom of the ladder. Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution provides special privileges for Malayans only. Politically, they hardly count. They wanted to organise a rally to ventilate their grievances, but were denied permission by the police. On November 25, 2007, when nearly 20,000 people gathered near the Petronas Twin Towers, carrying portraits of Mahatma Gandhi to highlight the non-violent nature of their protest, the police cracked down on them using tear gas and water cannons. Leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) were arrested. Five of them have been detained under the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial.
In religious matters, the Indians are subjected to discrimination of the worst kind, thanks to Malaysia gradually leaning towards Wahabi-style of Islam. Temples are demolished now and then. What is worse, in many cases, the devotees were not even allowed to retrieve the images of the deities which were also smashed. It is estimated that more than 150 temples have been razed to the ground so far. The destruction of a non-descript shrine in Ayodhya led to tremors all over the country and even outside but the destruction of more than 150 temples in Malaysia has created hardly a ripple in the country.
The government, after showing some concern in the initial stages, washed its hands off after the Malaysian government took the stand that it was their internal matter. Suppressing an ethnic minority’s religious freedom cannot be justified under any circumstances. Human rights have universal application. The Malaysian government’s charge that the persons of Indian origin have their links with LTTE is preposterous on the face of it. P Uthayakumar, founder member of the Hindraf, has stoutly denied the same. “We have got zero links with terrorism. We have got zero links with LTTE. We do not support violence. We are a non-violent group”, he said.
There is no point in expecting much from the government which is always obsessed by political considerations. National interests or national pride do not mean much to them. But what has been the response from other significant groups? The BJP’s reaction has been muted. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has kept quiet. Organisations like Bajrang Dal, which are prompt to take up frivolous matters, have not cared to raise their little finger. The Shankaracharyas appear to be in a trance. Religious leaders, who take pride in flaunting their international linkages, have not spoken a word.
The middle class of India, which is basking in the sunshine of economic growth will continue visiting Malaysia for a holiday bash. And the media will have no compunctions in publishing advertisements promoting tourism to Malaysia. The Human Rights groups in the country, which could have raised the issue at international fora, have preferred to turn the blind eye to the developments in the neighbourhood.
Ironically, there have been voices of protests in UK and in USA. In UK, nineteen Members of Parliament, cutting across party lines, have urged upon the British government to take up the matter with the Malaysian government in the strongest possible manner. “This House notes with great concern the stated intention of the Government of Malaysia to demolish 79 Hindu temples”, the motion moved by them said. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged President Bush to take up the matter with Kuala Lumpur and “insist that immediate measures be taken to protect sacred sites and prevent further destruction”.
What do you expect under these circumstances? Indians, particularly their majority community, can just be kicked around in any part of the world. The great actors of this ‘Mera Bharat Mahan’ are busy enjoying the good things of life. They have no time to think about pride or self-respect.
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=217&page=35
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Indian vote may sway the coming Malaysian elections?
How will the Indian vote sway the coming M'sian elections?
Minority Report
Susan Tam, 31 Dec. 2007
MINORITY REPORT
By Susan Tam
THEY are a minority in Malaysia, but Indians might be large enough a bloc in some parliamentary seats to make the difference between winning and losing.
Indians represent only 7per cent of the Malaysian population but, in seats in nine states, they form 10 to 20 per cent of voters.
If the margin of victory here at the previous election is under 20 per cent, then Indians might well tip victory in favour of the ruling coalition or the opposition.
As the graphics show, Kedah, Pahang, Perak and Penang have enough Indian voters to topple seats currently held by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).
In these states, the margins of victory range from 4 per cent to 29per cent. This is the proportion of extra votes the winning candidates got.
One seat in Pahang has no hope without Indian voters. (See graphics at right.) The others are touch and go if 20per cent of Indian voters swing to the other side, along with a small proportion of Chinese swing voters.
This could lead to BN losing up to seven seats in these four states.
(This assumes the margin of victory in the individual seats does not vary greatly from the average winning margins for the state.)
In the remaining five states with a high proportion of Indian voters, the BN's victory margin is too large for Indian voters to make a difference.
With elections tipped to take place soon (expectedly next March), political observers are closely watching the Indian vote.
Not that Indian voters can, on their own, change the overall results of the national elections.
And not that the Opposition can gain an upper hand based on the share of votes at the last election.
BN took 66 per cent of votes, while the Opposition got 34 per cent.
There are only 50 parliamentary constituencies out of a total of 219 that have between 10 and 20 per cent Indian voters.
And out of these, only seven seats are vulnerable to Indian bloc voting.
The status quo, therefore, may not face danger of a big change in government at the federal or state levels. But the Indian factor, together with a host of recent events, might well represent a tipping point, as the Chinese in Malaysia are also rattled by race relations.
Also, a charismatic candidate who wins a seat in one of the hot constituencies has the potential to gain a higher profile at the federal level. This might lead to an amplification of the opposition's influence and could affect decisions on national policies.
Last month, more than 20,000 Indians marched in Kuala Lumpur claiming they had suffered discrimination.
Protesters were led by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf). The incident ended with several Hindraf leaders being arrested under the Internal Security Act.
Political observers said the clashes could possibly lead to Indian voters not showing support for BN.
'That is an extreme view, if we were to assume all Indian voters will record their unhappiness at the polls,' said political science head DrAhmad Nidzammudin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
IMPACT
'The Hindraf issue has certainly impacted the Indian voters and Malaysians as a whole, it could act as a catalyst in changing the hands of power in some seats,' he observed.
Also, an anonymous e-mail being circulated recently is seen as part of the efforts to mobilise the Malaysian Indians. In it, the sender called for those who were disappointed with current political situation should 'make themselves heard' at the ballot boxes.
BN's dominance will not come to an end should all Indian voices rally against it, but losing several seats will see an erosion of the current two-third majority it holds in the Parliament.
BN is made up of main political parties representing the Indian (MIC), Chinese (MCA) and Malay (UMNO) ethnic groups.
Compared with these two other communities, the Indians are perceived as not having much say in the makings of the Malaysian government, said DrAhmad.
But last month's Hindraf led rally may have affected the way this community view the ruling power.
In the 2004 General Elections, close to seven million Malaysians voted. To date, there are no official figures on non-voting Malaysians.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,152052,00.html
Minority Report
Susan Tam, 31 Dec. 2007
MINORITY REPORT
By Susan Tam
THEY are a minority in Malaysia, but Indians might be large enough a bloc in some parliamentary seats to make the difference between winning and losing.
Indians represent only 7per cent of the Malaysian population but, in seats in nine states, they form 10 to 20 per cent of voters.
If the margin of victory here at the previous election is under 20 per cent, then Indians might well tip victory in favour of the ruling coalition or the opposition.
As the graphics show, Kedah, Pahang, Perak and Penang have enough Indian voters to topple seats currently held by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).
In these states, the margins of victory range from 4 per cent to 29per cent. This is the proportion of extra votes the winning candidates got.
One seat in Pahang has no hope without Indian voters. (See graphics at right.) The others are touch and go if 20per cent of Indian voters swing to the other side, along with a small proportion of Chinese swing voters.
This could lead to BN losing up to seven seats in these four states.
(This assumes the margin of victory in the individual seats does not vary greatly from the average winning margins for the state.)
In the remaining five states with a high proportion of Indian voters, the BN's victory margin is too large for Indian voters to make a difference.
With elections tipped to take place soon (expectedly next March), political observers are closely watching the Indian vote.
Not that Indian voters can, on their own, change the overall results of the national elections.
And not that the Opposition can gain an upper hand based on the share of votes at the last election.
BN took 66 per cent of votes, while the Opposition got 34 per cent.
There are only 50 parliamentary constituencies out of a total of 219 that have between 10 and 20 per cent Indian voters.
And out of these, only seven seats are vulnerable to Indian bloc voting.
The status quo, therefore, may not face danger of a big change in government at the federal or state levels. But the Indian factor, together with a host of recent events, might well represent a tipping point, as the Chinese in Malaysia are also rattled by race relations.
Also, a charismatic candidate who wins a seat in one of the hot constituencies has the potential to gain a higher profile at the federal level. This might lead to an amplification of the opposition's influence and could affect decisions on national policies.
Last month, more than 20,000 Indians marched in Kuala Lumpur claiming they had suffered discrimination.
Protesters were led by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf). The incident ended with several Hindraf leaders being arrested under the Internal Security Act.
Political observers said the clashes could possibly lead to Indian voters not showing support for BN.
'That is an extreme view, if we were to assume all Indian voters will record their unhappiness at the polls,' said political science head DrAhmad Nidzammudin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
IMPACT
'The Hindraf issue has certainly impacted the Indian voters and Malaysians as a whole, it could act as a catalyst in changing the hands of power in some seats,' he observed.
Also, an anonymous e-mail being circulated recently is seen as part of the efforts to mobilise the Malaysian Indians. In it, the sender called for those who were disappointed with current political situation should 'make themselves heard' at the ballot boxes.
BN's dominance will not come to an end should all Indian voices rally against it, but losing several seats will see an erosion of the current two-third majority it holds in the Parliament.
BN is made up of main political parties representing the Indian (MIC), Chinese (MCA) and Malay (UMNO) ethnic groups.
Compared with these two other communities, the Indians are perceived as not having much say in the makings of the Malaysian government, said DrAhmad.
But last month's Hindraf led rally may have affected the way this community view the ruling power.
In the 2004 General Elections, close to seven million Malaysians voted. To date, there are no official figures on non-voting Malaysians.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,152052,00.html
Hindu prayers for detained Hindraf leaders
Hindus in Malaysia offer special prayers for detained Hindraf activists
December 31st, 2007 - 1:43 pm ICT by admin –
Kuala Lumpur, Dec 31 (ANI): Hindus residing in Malaysia gathered in large numbers at various temples in the country to offer their prayers for the early release of detained activists of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
After the November 25 violent protests by Hindus seeking equal rights, the Malaysian government had detained a large number of Hindraf activists in a nationwide crackdown.
Five persons have been detained under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), and over two dozen others have been charged for participating in an illegal assembly.
The special prayers were organised by a coalition of 30 non-governmental organisations and the Indian community present here.
These prayers also turned out to be an occasion for the aggrieved Indian community to express their discontentment over the ill treatment that they have to face in public life.
The minority Indian community here are demanding equal employment opportunities.
At one such prayer in Klang, Coalition spokesman L. Segaran said that they would be urging the Malaysian Prime Minister to release the five persons detained under ISA.
Last week, five leaders of Hindraf- M. Manoharan, 46, V. Ganabatirau, 34 and P. Uthayakumar, 46, along with Hindraf co-ordinator K. Vasantha Kumar, 34 and R. Kengadharan, 40 -submitted a formal application for their right to be present at a habeas corpus petition court hearing, scheduled for next month.
The five Hindraf leaders claim that their detention was illegal as they were detained without thorough investigation, required under section 73 of the Act.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who will be leading a 70-member delegation to the Pravasi Barathiya Divas conference in New Delhi beginning on January 7, has said that he would meet Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other leaders to apprise them about the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia, The Star reported. (ANI)
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/hindus-in-malaysia-offer-special-prayers-for-detained-hindraf-activists_10010798.html
December 31st, 2007 - 1:43 pm ICT by admin –
Kuala Lumpur, Dec 31 (ANI): Hindus residing in Malaysia gathered in large numbers at various temples in the country to offer their prayers for the early release of detained activists of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
After the November 25 violent protests by Hindus seeking equal rights, the Malaysian government had detained a large number of Hindraf activists in a nationwide crackdown.
Five persons have been detained under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), and over two dozen others have been charged for participating in an illegal assembly.
The special prayers were organised by a coalition of 30 non-governmental organisations and the Indian community present here.
These prayers also turned out to be an occasion for the aggrieved Indian community to express their discontentment over the ill treatment that they have to face in public life.
The minority Indian community here are demanding equal employment opportunities.
At one such prayer in Klang, Coalition spokesman L. Segaran said that they would be urging the Malaysian Prime Minister to release the five persons detained under ISA.
Last week, five leaders of Hindraf- M. Manoharan, 46, V. Ganabatirau, 34 and P. Uthayakumar, 46, along with Hindraf co-ordinator K. Vasantha Kumar, 34 and R. Kengadharan, 40 -submitted a formal application for their right to be present at a habeas corpus petition court hearing, scheduled for next month.
The five Hindraf leaders claim that their detention was illegal as they were detained without thorough investigation, required under section 73 of the Act.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who will be leading a 70-member delegation to the Pravasi Barathiya Divas conference in New Delhi beginning on January 7, has said that he would meet Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other leaders to apprise them about the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia, The Star reported. (ANI)
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/hindus-in-malaysia-offer-special-prayers-for-detained-hindraf-activists_10010798.html
Hindraf signature drive to seek release of leaders
Hindraf launches signature drive seeking release of leaders
Kuala Lumpur (PTI), Dec. 27, 2007: An ethnic Indian organisation in Malaysia on Thursday launched a signature campaign to seek the release of five of its leaders detained under a controversial security law and appealed to premier Abdullah Badawi to either free them or put them on trial.
The Chirman of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), P Wayathu Moorthy, called on the government to "unconditionally release all the five who have been falsely and unjustly incarcerated since December 13 or alternatively charge them in a court of law."
The leaders of Hindraf were held under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, after the group organised a massive rally here on November 25 to protest the alleged marginalisation of ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
The government said they were a threat to national security and accused them of having terrorist links. The group has denied the allegations.
Moorthy, who is currently in London, said in a statement sent to his office through email that Hindraf would continue its struggle both locally and internationally to "highlight the plight of minority Malaysian Indians."
"It is our strong belief that our Prime Minister will listen. He says he has 'big ears' and we hope his big ears will listen," Hindraf spokesman Thanenthiran Ramankutty told reporters here today.
He said the international signature campaign, which will continue till January 20, 2008, was targeting one million signatories from all races who supported the Hindraf cause.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200712271654.htm
Kuala Lumpur (PTI), Dec. 27, 2007: An ethnic Indian organisation in Malaysia on Thursday launched a signature campaign to seek the release of five of its leaders detained under a controversial security law and appealed to premier Abdullah Badawi to either free them or put them on trial.
The Chirman of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), P Wayathu Moorthy, called on the government to "unconditionally release all the five who have been falsely and unjustly incarcerated since December 13 or alternatively charge them in a court of law."
The leaders of Hindraf were held under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, after the group organised a massive rally here on November 25 to protest the alleged marginalisation of ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
The government said they were a threat to national security and accused them of having terrorist links. The group has denied the allegations.
Moorthy, who is currently in London, said in a statement sent to his office through email that Hindraf would continue its struggle both locally and internationally to "highlight the plight of minority Malaysian Indians."
"It is our strong belief that our Prime Minister will listen. He says he has 'big ears' and we hope his big ears will listen," Hindraf spokesman Thanenthiran Ramankutty told reporters here today.
He said the international signature campaign, which will continue till January 20, 2008, was targeting one million signatories from all races who supported the Hindraf cause.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200712271654.htm
Khir to meet all Hindu temple chairmen this Friday
Khir to meet all Hindu temple chairmen this Friday
By BERNAMA
01 January, 2008
SELANGOR MB Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo will be meeting the chairmen of all Hindu temples in the state this Friday to discuss problems affecting the places of worship. Malaysian Hindu Council chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said the meeting would take place at Batu Caves on Friday and about 800 chairmen of Hindu temples throughout Selangor were expected to attend it.
“We will use this opportunity to discuss with him problems affecting Hindu temples and hope that he will be able to assist us in resolving them,” Nadarajah told reporters this today.
He said a memorandum on the problems affecting Hindu temples would also be handed over to Khir.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20071231183440/Article/index_html
By BERNAMA
01 January, 2008
SELANGOR MB Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo will be meeting the chairmen of all Hindu temples in the state this Friday to discuss problems affecting the places of worship. Malaysian Hindu Council chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said the meeting would take place at Batu Caves on Friday and about 800 chairmen of Hindu temples throughout Selangor were expected to attend it.
“We will use this opportunity to discuss with him problems affecting Hindu temples and hope that he will be able to assist us in resolving them,” Nadarajah told reporters this today.
He said a memorandum on the problems affecting Hindu temples would also be handed over to Khir.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20071231183440/Article/index_html
'Give and take' suggested to resolve Malaysia's ethnic problems
'Give and take' to resolve Malaysia's ethnic problems
Submitted by Tarique on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 13:29.
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that any dispute concerning ethnicity and religion can be resolved by subscribing to the "give and take" spirit.
He told a gathering of civil servants Sunday that confrontational methods would not resolve sensitive issues.
Reacting to claims that racial and religious tolerance had deteriorated in the country, Najib said: "We still hold on strongly to the concept which we have practised all this while."
He dismissed "rumours" being circulated that the demolition of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam had not been handled with care by the government, The Star reported Monday.
"First of all, the land where the temple was built was privately owned. It was not built on government land. It also took the owner three years to apply through the legal process to have it moved. It was only after three years that action was taken," he said.
He also refuted claims that idols of deities were destroyed when the temple was demolished.
"The deities were transported out of the temple first and not otherwise. Even my own friends who are Hindus asked me this and I checked and checked and triple checked. The deities were shifted first," Najib said.
Demolition of the temple was one of the issues raised by the Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf), a group that claims to represent ethnic Indians, especially Hindu Tamils.
The Hindraf has alleged that 30,000 Hindu temples have been destroyed in Malaysia since its independence 50 years ago.
Hindraf organised a protest rally on Nov 25, which was declared illegal and dispersed. Thirty-one people are being prosecuted for participating in the rally and five of the organisers have been imprisoned for two years under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/dec/31/give_and_take_resolve_malaysias_ethnic_problems.html
Submitted by Tarique on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 13:29.
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that any dispute concerning ethnicity and religion can be resolved by subscribing to the "give and take" spirit.
He told a gathering of civil servants Sunday that confrontational methods would not resolve sensitive issues.
Reacting to claims that racial and religious tolerance had deteriorated in the country, Najib said: "We still hold on strongly to the concept which we have practised all this while."
He dismissed "rumours" being circulated that the demolition of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam had not been handled with care by the government, The Star reported Monday.
"First of all, the land where the temple was built was privately owned. It was not built on government land. It also took the owner three years to apply through the legal process to have it moved. It was only after three years that action was taken," he said.
He also refuted claims that idols of deities were destroyed when the temple was demolished.
"The deities were transported out of the temple first and not otherwise. Even my own friends who are Hindus asked me this and I checked and checked and triple checked. The deities were shifted first," Najib said.
Demolition of the temple was one of the issues raised by the Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf), a group that claims to represent ethnic Indians, especially Hindu Tamils.
The Hindraf has alleged that 30,000 Hindu temples have been destroyed in Malaysia since its independence 50 years ago.
Hindraf organised a protest rally on Nov 25, which was declared illegal and dispersed. Thirty-one people are being prosecuted for participating in the rally and five of the organisers have been imprisoned for two years under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/dec/31/give_and_take_resolve_malaysias_ethnic_problems.html
Malaysia frees four Jemaah Islamiyah militants with links to Al Qaida
2007-12-31 Southeast Asia
Malaysia frees four alleged militants
The Malaysian government has released four alleged members of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah after holding them for nearly five years, a rights group said on Saturday. "The government freed the four alleged JI members last week," Yap Swee Seng, the executive director of the campaign group Voice of the Malaysian People, said.
The men were arrested in December 2002 under the criticised Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, after the government launched a crackdown on JI, the rights group said. The militant group, previously thought to have links to Al-Qaida, has been blamed for deadly attacks that have killed hundreds of people in south-east Asia. Yap said that the men were released from Kamunting detention camp in northern Perak state on December 19, but that their movements have been curtailed. "They still have to report to police and remain indoors at night," he said.
Security officials could not be reached for comment. But intelligence officials have previously said that detention under the ISA was extended only if there was evidence that a militant remained a security threat.
The released men were Bakkery Mahhamud, Mohamad Zamri Sukirman, Sabri Jaafar and Zamzuri Sukirman, said GMI, another rights group, adding they had been detained between December 2002 and January 2003.
GMI wants the ISA abolished and said a persistent public campaign had led to their release. But it criticised the selective release of people held under the act. "GMI calls on the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to immediately release all those who have been detained in Kamunting or charge them in court," it said.
The government used the ISA in December to arrest five Hindu rights activists after they organised street protests to demand equal opportunities in Muslim-majority Malaysia. They are still being held by the authorities and critics charge that the ISA contravenes human rights. Malaysia has detained at least 85 people under the ISA, including alleged JI militants, according to the Voice of the Malaysian People. JI has been blamed for the 2002 bombings on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, which killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists.
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?D=2007-12-31&ID=216423
Malaysia frees four alleged militants
The Malaysian government has released four alleged members of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah after holding them for nearly five years, a rights group said on Saturday. "The government freed the four alleged JI members last week," Yap Swee Seng, the executive director of the campaign group Voice of the Malaysian People, said.
The men were arrested in December 2002 under the criticised Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, after the government launched a crackdown on JI, the rights group said. The militant group, previously thought to have links to Al-Qaida, has been blamed for deadly attacks that have killed hundreds of people in south-east Asia. Yap said that the men were released from Kamunting detention camp in northern Perak state on December 19, but that their movements have been curtailed. "They still have to report to police and remain indoors at night," he said.
Security officials could not be reached for comment. But intelligence officials have previously said that detention under the ISA was extended only if there was evidence that a militant remained a security threat.
The released men were Bakkery Mahhamud, Mohamad Zamri Sukirman, Sabri Jaafar and Zamzuri Sukirman, said GMI, another rights group, adding they had been detained between December 2002 and January 2003.
GMI wants the ISA abolished and said a persistent public campaign had led to their release. But it criticised the selective release of people held under the act. "GMI calls on the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to immediately release all those who have been detained in Kamunting or charge them in court," it said.
The government used the ISA in December to arrest five Hindu rights activists after they organised street protests to demand equal opportunities in Muslim-majority Malaysia. They are still being held by the authorities and critics charge that the ISA contravenes human rights. Malaysia has detained at least 85 people under the ISA, including alleged JI militants, according to the Voice of the Malaysian People. JI has been blamed for the 2002 bombings on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, which killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists.
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?D=2007-12-31&ID=216423
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