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FAC News - Saturday, November 3, 2001 11:20 PM Malaysiakini - Saturday November 3 Keadilan’s
Badrul released from ISA detention Keadilan leader and Internal Security Act detainee Dr Badrul Amin Bahron was released from the Kamunting detention camp, Perak, late this afternoon. However, the camp authorities did not release Badrul in Kamunting where scores of supporters had been waiting after hearing news of his imminent freedom. Instead, Badrul was driven to nearby Taiping's bus station in a police van. There he was met by a few supporters who had followed the van from Kamunting, including Keadilan's Selangor assemblyman Azmin Ali. It is learnt that Badrul has been placed under restricted residence, and is confined to Gombak in Selangor where his house is located. He is also required to report to the Gombak police station every week. Earlier today, Badrul’s wife Zumrah Husni told malaysiakini that she received a phone call from an officer at the detention camp informing her that her husband would be released. However, she said that the camp official did not give any reason for Badrul’s unexpected early release. "We’re very happy to hear the news, and we would like to thank all our friends and family for the support they have given us," said an elated Zumrah. Zumrah, along with her children and a few Keadilan supporters, immediately left Kuala Lumpur for the three-hour drive to Kamunting. Badrul was detained together with nine other Keadilan and reformasi activists under the ISA in April for alleged involvement in a militant attempt to overthrow the government. Arrested on April 20, Badrul was later sent to Kamunting under a two-year detention order on June 13. Today marks the end of his 197th day in detention. Five others still held Aside from Badrul, there are five other reformasi activists held in Kamunting. However, it is unclear whether they would also be released soon. The five are Keadilan leaders Chua Tian Chang (Tian Chua), Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Nor Adam, Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais Tian, Ezam, Saari and Hishamuddin are currently appealing in the Federal Court against the dismissal of the habeas corpus case by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Augustine Paul. They have also initiated a hunger strike in Kamunting to protest against officials whom they claim are abusing their rights. In April, the police arrested 10 reformasi activists under the controversial ISA for allegedly seeking to organise street demonstrations to overthrow the government. However, four were later released by the police. Their arrests under the ISA - which allows detention without trial - has prompted condemnations from human rights groups as well as the Human Rights Commission. Motivational expert Badrul Amin is well known as a preacher and motivational expert before he joined Keadilan in 1999. Political speeches given by the Tawau-born Badrul are popular with many opposition supporters. He is currently the party's Sabak Bernam (Selangor) division chief and a Youth leader in Sabah. He received his first degree in Syariah Law from the Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He furthered his studies in the United Kingdom where he did comparative law at the University of Kent before earning his doctorate in philosophy from Birmingham. He is also active in social work and is one of the promoters of the Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim).
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