Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR1119
2008-12-30 09:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

SUMMARY OF DETENTIONS AND RELEASES UNDER

Tags:  PTER PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6690
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #1119/01 3650915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300915Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2174
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2717
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0558
RUEHJS/AMCONSUL SURABAYA PRIORITY 0095
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
B/COMUSSOCOM INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 001119 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS, INR, S/CT
DOJ/OPDAT FOR BERMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM MY
SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF DETENTIONS AND RELEASES UNDER
MALAYSIA'S INTERNAL SECURITY ACT

REF: A. KL 1114 - PRESSURE MOUNTS AGAINST ISA

B. KL 1111 - 2008 CT REPORT

C. KL 834 - KOK RELEASED FROM ISA

D. KL 810 - UPROAR OVER ISA

E. KL 806 - JOURNALIST DETAINED UNDER ISA

F. 07 KL 1710 - HINDRAF LEADERS DETAINED UNDER ISA

G. 07 KL 1497 - MALAYSIA'S ISA DETAINEES 2007

H. 07 KL 902 - BEYOND ISA

KUALA LUMP 00001119 001.2 OF 003


Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 001119

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS, INR, S/CT
DOJ/OPDAT FOR BERMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM MY
SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF DETENTIONS AND RELEASES UNDER
MALAYSIA'S INTERNAL SECURITY ACT

REF: A. KL 1114 - PRESSURE MOUNTS AGAINST ISA

B. KL 1111 - 2008 CT REPORT

C. KL 834 - KOK RELEASED FROM ISA

D. KL 810 - UPROAR OVER ISA

E. KL 806 - JOURNALIST DETAINED UNDER ISA

F. 07 KL 1710 - HINDRAF LEADERS DETAINED UNDER ISA

G. 07 KL 1497 - MALAYSIA'S ISA DETAINEES 2007

H. 07 KL 902 - BEYOND ISA

KUALA LUMP 00001119 001.2 OF 003


Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) The Malaysian government currently holds 46
individuals under the Internal Security Act (ISA),which
allows for detention without trial for terrorists and other
persons deemed threats to national security, according to
figures from a local NGO that reports reliably on ISA
detentions. The number of ISA detainees has declined from 85
in 2007 and 93 in 2006. Following the release in 2008 of 19
persons held for terrorism-related reasons, 29 persons with
suspected terrorist links remain in ISA detention.
Authorities arrested nine persons under ISA in 2008, but none
for terrorist-related activities. This report lists the
names and suspected offenses of persons currently held under
ISA; those released from ISA during 2008; and those newly
detained under ISA in 2008. This cable supplements ref A
report on mounting political pressure against the ISA. End
Summary.

ISA Detentions Cut in Half Since 2006
--------------


2. (SBU) The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI),an NGO coalition
that has consistently and accurately recorded persons
detained under ISA, provided the Embassy with its data on ISA
detainees reportedly accurate as of December 16. According
to GMI, the Malaysian government currently holds 46 persons
under ISA. This represents a significant decline in the
total number of ISA detainees, dropping from 85 in December
2007 and from 93 held in 2006. Of those currently under ISA
detention, 29 persons (roughly two-thirds) are held for
suspected links to terrorist groups, namely Jemaah Islamiya
(JI) and Darul Islam (DI). This represents a decrease from
58 terrorist suspects held in 2006. The remainder currently
in ISA detention consist of document forgers (10 persons);

ethnic Indian rights activists (5) from the Hindu Rights
Action Force (HINDRAF),who are considered political
prisoners by the human rights community; and two Malaysians
allegedly acting as foreign agents.

Current Detainees
--------------


3. (SBU) The name, suspected offense and original arrest
date of the current 46 ISA detainees are provided below. We
have indicated the reported nationality of those who are not
Malaysian citizens (ID = Indonesian, RP = Philippines).

1) Suhaimi bin Mokhtar JI 12/29/01
2) Abdullah bin Daud JI 2002
3) Mat Sah bin Mohd Satray JI 04/18/02
4) Shamsuddin bin Sulaiman JI 04/07/02
5) Zaini bin Zakaria JI 12/02
6) Zainun Rasyhid (ID) JI 12/02
7) Wan Amin bin Wan Hamat JI 2003
8) Mohd Khider bin Kadran JI 2004
9) Sufian bin Salih (RP) JI 2004
10) Hasim bin Talib (RP) JI 2004
11) Mahfudl Saifuddin (ID) JI 2005
12) Mulyadi (ID) JI 2005
13) Mohd Arasad Patangari DI 2006
14) Adzmi Pindalun DI 2006
15) Idris Bin Lanama DI 2006
16) Ahamad Ghafar Shahril(ID) DI 2006
17) Jeknal Adil (RP) DI 2006
18) Binsali Omar (RP) DI 2006

KUALA LUMP 00001119 002.2 OF 003


19) A Artas Bin A Burhanuddin DI 2006
20) Mohd Nasri Bin Dollah DI 2006
21) Francis Indanan DI 2006
22) Husin Bin Alih (RP) DI 2006
23) Yusoff Bin Mohd Salam (RP) DI 2006
24) Abdul Jamal Bin Azahari(RP)DI 2006
25) Pakana Bin Selama (ID) DI 2006
26) Ng How Chuang aka John Forgery 2006
27) Ng Keat Seng Forgery 2006
28) Mohd Azuan Bin Ariffin Foreign Agent 2006
29) Zulkifli Bin Abu Bakar Foreign Agent 2007
30) Amir Hussain (Myanmar) Forgery 2007
31) Mohd Amir Bin Mohd Hanafiah JI 2007
32) Zulkifli Bin Marzuki JI 2007
33) Ahmad Kamil Bin Mohd Hanafiah JI 2007
34) Mohd Nasir Bin Ismail aka Hassan JI 2007
35) Shadul Islam Forgery 05/14/08
36) Tan Choon Chin Forgery 2007
37) Sundaraj Vijay (India) Forgery 2007
38) San Khaing (Myanmar) Forgery 2007
39) P. Uthayakumar HINDRAF 12/13/07
40) M. Manoharan Malayalam HINDRAF 12/13/07
41) R. Kenghadharan Ramasamy HINDRAF 12/13/07
42) V. Ganabati Rao Veraman HINDRAF 12/13/07
43) T. Vasanthakumar Khrishnan HINDRAF 12/13/07
44) Abdul Sathar Mohammad Sarjoon Forgery NA
45) Mahamad Nakhrakhel Forgery NA
46) Muhammad Zahid Haji Zahir Shah Forgery NA

Releases in 2008
--------------


4. (SBU) In keeping with the overall decrease in ISA
detainees, releases (32 persons) outstripped new ISA arrests
(9 persons). Those released include B.S.A. Tahir, who was
held for his connection to the A.Q. Khan nuclear
proliferation network. Below is the list, in reverse
chronological order, of ISA detainees released during 2008.
The list includes name, suspected offense, year of arrest,
and date of release, and also indicates the nationality of
non-Malaysians if known. The two released Thai separatists
reportedly are dual Malaysia-Thai nationals.

1) Mavalavan Muthuramalingam Foreign Agent 2007
12/04/08
2) Mohd Faizol Bin Shamsudin Foreign Agent 2007
12/04/08
3) Mat Tarmizi Bin Shamsudin S.Thai Separatist 2005
12/04/08
4) Abdul Rahman Bin Ahmad S.Thai Separatist 2005
12/04/08
5) Abdul Murad Bin Sudin JI 10/16/02
12/02/08
6) Yazid Bin Suffat JI 09/12/01
11/24/08
7) Sulaiman Suramin JI 2003
11/24/08
8) Faycal Mamdouh Forgery 05/08
11/11/08
9) Muhd Shuaib Hazrat Bilal(Pakistan)Forgery 05/08
11/11/08
10) Shaykinar Bin Guat (RP) DI 2006
11/11/08
11) Argadi Bin Andoyok (RP) DI 2006
11/11/08
12) Kasem Dayama (Thailand) DI 2006
11/11/08
13) Raja Petra Kamaruddin Racial tension 09/12/08
11/07/08
14) Zakaria Samad (ID) JI 2004
11/05/08
15) Ahmad Zakaria (ID) JI 2004
11/05/08
16) Terhamid Dahlan (ID) JI 2004
11/05/08
17) Ariffin (ID) JI 2005

KUALA LUMP 00001119 003.2 OF 003


11/05/08
18) Lian Kok Heng Foreign Agent 2007
09/03/08
19) Sanjeev Kumar Khrishnan Foreign Agent 2007
09/03/08
20) Tan Hoon Cheng Racial tension 09/12/08
09/13/08
21) Teressa Kok Racial tension 09/12/08
09/13/08
22) Jaki Bin Hamid (ID) DI 2006
08/15/08
23) Shahrial aka Syahrial bin Sirin (ID) JI 01/02/02
08/15/08
24) Abdullah Minyak bin Silam (ID) JI 01/14/02
08/15/08
25) Zainuddin Suharmo (ID) DI 2006
08/15/08
26) Jaki Bin Hamid (ID) DI 2006
08/15/08
27) BSA Tahir (Sri Lanka) Nuke Prolif. 2004
06/23/08
28) Kandaraju Raman Immigrant smuggler 2005
05/08
29) Masran bin Arshad JI 2002
05/17/08
30) Nik Abdul Rahman bin Mustapha JI 10/16/02
05/17/08
31) Mohidin bin Shari JI 12/02
05/17/08
32) Azman Hashim JI 2003 05/17/08

Arrests in 2008
--------------


5. (SBU) In 2008, Malaysia made only nine new arrests under
the ISA's detention without trial provisions, and none of
these were related to terrorism. (Note: Police arrested a
tenth individual, Cheng Lee Wei, under a separate ISA
provision in 2008, and released him within 24 hours; we have
not included Cheng in this count. End Note.) The three ISA
arrests in September were widely viewed as politically
motivated, rather than security related, and resulted in
increased public pressure to amend or abolish the ISA (ref
A). In the case of blogger Raja Petra, a court ordered his
release after ruling in favor of his habeas corpus
application. The following list provides the name, suspected
offense, date of arrest and release date.

1) Shadul Islam Forgery 05/14/08 N/A
2) Abdul Sathar Mohammad Sarjoon Forgery NA N/A
3) Faycal Mamdouh Forgery 05/22/08 11/11/08
4) Mahamad Nakhrakhel Forgery NA N/A
5) Muhammad Shuaib Hazrat Bilal Forgery NA 11/11/08
6) Muhammad Zahid Haji Zahir Shah Forgery NA N/A
7) Raja Petra Kamaruddin Racial tension 09/12/08
11/07/08
8) Tan Hoon Cheng Racial tension 09/12/08 09/13/08
9) Teressa Kok Racial tension 09/12/08 09/19/08

KEITH