FAC News - Saturday, February 2, 2002 9:56 AM

National Justice Party gives Malaysian Government 48 hours ultimatum

The National Justice Party has given the Malaysian Government 48 hours to release Dr Badrulamin Bahron from what it regards as illegal detention, failing which it would take the "necessary action" for restitution.

This was the promise made by Abdul Rahman Othman, the party’s Deputy President, at a press conference in the party headquarters yesterday.

The tone was serious and uncompromising and reflects the fed up attitude of the opposition parties at the blatant use of the Internal Security Act to arrest all those opposed to Mahathir’s government under the guise of "national security".

Rahman said that the party is outraged that Dr Badrulamin was re-arrested under the ISA without being told of the reason of his arrest. A day earlier, Dr Badrulamin had gone to court to face the charge of violating the terms of his release but the court did not seem to know anything about the case.

Then Dr Badrulamin was summoned to the Rawang Police Station, again without being told why. At the police station he was re-arrested and sent back to the Kamunting Detention Center. Until now the police have not clarified the real reason for Dr Badrulamin’s re-arrest.

In the meantime, the Reformasi Movement is planning its activities over the next three months to oppose the ISA and pressure the government to release those still under detention in Kamunting. It is expected that the government would soon embark on further ISA arrests to thwart this plan, especially leading to "Black 14" in April (the anniversary of Anwar Ibrahim’s sentencing), just like it did in April 2000 and 2001.