Malaysia Calls For Citizens Held At Guantanamo To Be Brought Before Tribunal Soon

KLUANG, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia called for its two citizens held at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre since 2006 to be brought before a military tribunal as soon as possible.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the detention of the duo without trial shows that the Western country does not practise what it preaches in the matter of human rights.

"We hope that they (the Malaysians) will be brought before a military tribunal as soon as possible. We are often accused of not being independent, our judicial system is said to be not independent. But, I wish to state that we have two citizens being held (at Guantanamo) without trial for several years," he said.

He spoke to reporters after the handing over of affordable houses built by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) to 56 flood victims in Kampung Gajah, here Monday.

Hishammuddin said what the Western country did in the case of the detention of the two Malaysians without trial was inconsistent with what it preached on the issue of human rights.

"We are often accused of being unjust," he said.

A newspaper reported recently that the two Malaysians -- Mohd Farik Amin and Mohd Nazir Lep -- held at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre were expected to be brought before a military tribunal in the United States soon.