The government will release another 13 Internal Security Act detainees, including three of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.
This was announced by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at a press conference in Putrajaya.
Hishammuddin said that they would be released in the next "two or three days".
"I will be signing the (release) papers now," he said.
He did not give the reasons for the release of the 13 but added that they "no longer needed to be held".
Of the 13 to be released, six are Malaysians, two Indonesians and the remaining five are Filipinos.
They are Zulkepli Marzuki, Jeknal Adil, Azmi Pindatun, P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, T Vasanthakumar, Zainun Rasyhid, Aboud Ghafar Ismail, Sufian Salih, Hasim Talib, Abdul Jamal Azahari Yusof Mohd Salam and Husin Alih.
Hours after taking the reins in April, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ordered the release of 13 ISA detainees, including Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan.
'Mas Selamat detained under ISA'
The three Hindraf leaders still in detention are P Uthayakumar, T Vasanthakumar and M Manoharan.
Manoharan is also the state representative for Kota Alam Shah in Selangor. He won the seat from behind bars in the last general election.
The five were detained in December 2007 after mounting a massive street protest which saw tens of thousands of Indian Malaysians taking to the streets.
On another matter, Hishammuddin today confirmed that alleged Islamic militant leader Mas Selamat Kastari has been captured and is being held under ISA.
"Mas Selamat is under our detention and is being investigated right now. He was planning something which allows us to arrest him," Hishammuddin said.
"He is under ISA," he said.
Is it a diversion tactic?
In an immediate reaction, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy welcomed the release of the three Hindraf leaders but urged the government to release all remaining detainees and close down the detention centre.
"I also hope this is not an eyewash to divert the people's attention from the ugly episode in Perak yesterday," he said when contacted.
Waythamoorthy, who is Uthayakumar's younger brother, is presently in exile in London following the government crackdown on Hindraf. The movement was banned last October.
Meanwhile, Manoharan's wife S Pushpaneela (right) was elated with the news of her husband's impending release.
"I can't believe it. My children and I can't wait to see him free again. Now he can serve the people who voted him in as the state representative of Kota Alam Shah," she told Malaysiakini.
Manoharan won the seat while in detention but in recent days he is said to have grown frustrated of being unable to serve the constituency.
He has also expressed his intentions to quit the seat but this is now irrelevant with his release.
As of early April there were 27 people in detention under the ISA, mainly suspected Islamic militants.
Hishammuddin confirmed today that alleged militant leader Mas Selamat bin Kastari was also being held.
According to the minister, the alleged Islamic militant leader was captured and is being held under ISA.
"Mas Selamat is under our detention and is being investigated right now. He was planning something which allows us to arrest him," Hishammuddin said.
"He is under ISA," he said.
This was announced by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at a press conference in Putrajaya.Hishammuddin said that they would be released in the next "two or three days".
"I will be signing the (release) papers now," he said.
He did not give the reasons for the release of the 13 but added that they "no longer needed to be held".
Of the 13 to be released, six are Malaysians, two Indonesians and the remaining five are Filipinos.
They are Zulkepli Marzuki, Jeknal Adil, Azmi Pindatun, P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, T Vasanthakumar, Zainun Rasyhid, Aboud Ghafar Ismail, Sufian Salih, Hasim Talib, Abdul Jamal Azahari Yusof Mohd Salam and Husin Alih.
Hours after taking the reins in April, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ordered the release of 13 ISA detainees, including Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan.
'Mas Selamat detained under ISA'
The three Hindraf leaders still in detention are P Uthayakumar, T Vasanthakumar and M Manoharan.
Manoharan is also the state representative for Kota Alam Shah in Selangor. He won the seat from behind bars in the last general election.
The five were detained in December 2007 after mounting a massive street protest which saw tens of thousands of Indian Malaysians taking to the streets.
On another matter, Hishammuddin today confirmed that alleged Islamic militant leader Mas Selamat Kastari has been captured and is being held under ISA."Mas Selamat is under our detention and is being investigated right now. He was planning something which allows us to arrest him," Hishammuddin said.
"He is under ISA," he said.
Is it a diversion tactic?
In an immediate reaction, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy welcomed the release of the three Hindraf leaders but urged the government to release all remaining detainees and close down the detention centre.
"I also hope this is not an eyewash to divert the people's attention from the ugly episode in Perak yesterday," he said when contacted.
Waythamoorthy, who is Uthayakumar's younger brother, is presently in exile in London following the government crackdown on Hindraf. The movement was banned last October.
Meanwhile, Manoharan's wife S Pushpaneela (right) was elated with the news of her husband's impending release."I can't believe it. My children and I can't wait to see him free again. Now he can serve the people who voted him in as the state representative of Kota Alam Shah," she told Malaysiakini.
Manoharan won the seat while in detention but in recent days he is said to have grown frustrated of being unable to serve the constituency.
He has also expressed his intentions to quit the seat but this is now irrelevant with his release.
As of early April there were 27 people in detention under the ISA, mainly suspected Islamic militants.
Hishammuddin confirmed today that alleged militant leader Mas Selamat bin Kastari was also being held.
According to the minister, the alleged Islamic militant leader was captured and is being held under ISA."Mas Selamat is under our detention and is being investigated right now. He was planning something which allows us to arrest him," Hishammuddin said.
"He is under ISA," he said.
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