Government Accepted Decision By Police To Release Activists - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- The government has accepted the decision by police to free six Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) activists who were detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) last month, in good faith.

"It is up to the Attorney-general to decide on what appropriate action to take. As a nation, we stand by the principle of the rule of law," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting here Friday.

The six detainees were Sungai Siput Member of Parliament Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devara, 56, Sungai Siput PSM division secretary A.P. Letchumanan, 49, PSM central committee member Choo Chon Kai, 33, M. Sukumaran, 50, PSM deputy chairman, M. Sarasvathy, 58, and PSM youth leader, R. Sarat Babu, 25.

They were detained in Seberang Prai, Penang under Section 3 (1) Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1959 on July 2.

On June 25, they were detained with 24 others in a bus at the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza in Kepala Batas and were charged under Section 122 of the Penal Code for trying to show disrespect to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.