Emotional time for wives of freed detainees
Malaysiakini
Oct  18, 2006
Beh Lih Yi

One would not believe her husband was coming home, while another could not believe hers was already home after years of detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Nik Adli Nik Abdul Aziz’s wife, Sles Monira, when contacted, was still waiting for her husband to be sent home from the Kota Bahru police station.

The son of Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, he had been taken there from the police remand centre in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, after being freed earlier today after five years of detention without trial.

Asked to comment, an emotional Sles said: “He arrived 15 minutes ago (at 5.15pm) in Kota Baru, I can’t be sure that he has been released until he steps into our house.

“He has been brought back before but the police took him back and continued to detain him under the ISA... this is the cruelty of the ISA.

“All of us including Tok Guru (Nik Aziz) are waiting at home for him to return, insyallah (God willing). The children have been waiting at the doorstep since this afternoon.”

The couple have two sons aged nine and six.

On July 23, 2004, Nik Adli had a tearful reunion with his father for the first time in three years, after being detained in August 2001.

He had been granted permission to visit his father in hospital after a written request from him was approved by the Kamunting detention camp authorities in Perak.

At the time, Nik Aziz was warded in the intensive care unit following a heart attack and undergoing an angioplasty procedure.

Nik Adli, 38, a religious teacher, was detained over alleged connections with the so-called Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (KMM). He was released today with six others, of whom five were allegedly KMM members.

Nik Aziz’s political secretary Anual Bahkri Haron later told malaysiakini that Nik Adli had reached home about 6pm, just before the menteri besar left for a breaking of fast function in Kota Bahru.

‘Still shaking’

Masitah Baharom, the wife of another freed detainee Abdul Samad Shukri Samad (pix), was still in a state of disbelief when contacted in Kuala Lumpur, as she had not expect his release.

Abdul Samad, 47, was the only alleged Jemaah Islamiah-linked ISA detainee who was freed.

“I was at home with my children when the police sent my husband back. I was surprised and I’m still shaking, wondering this is true,” said a clearly joyful Masitah.

She believed his release will help cure their eldest son Abdul Muaz, 21, who is suffering a mental illness resulting from the stress caused by Abdul Samad’s detention.

“My eldest son has just been discharged from the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (where he was being treated for mental illness). He is glad to see his father again,” said Masitah.

The couple have six children aged between 11 and 21.

Masitah said she has not had sufficient time to catch up with her husband as yet, as he arrived home at 3.45pm and a number of visitors have stopped by already.

“I am busy cooking now to prepare for our breaking of fast,” she said.

Others still held

Despite the release of seven detainees, about 80 others remain detained without trial under the ISA, over various allegations.

Among them is Mohd Sha Sarijan, whose wife Norlaila Othman was nonetheless glad for those families who received good news.

“Of course, we are happy for the seven, but don’t forget that many others are still being detained. The selective release of ISA detainees shows how evil the law is,” she said.

Her husband was detained over alleged links to JI - like Abdul Samad - in December 2001.

Norlaila has been the most outspoken of the detainees’ wives and has actively participated in the Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) campaign to lobby for the repeal of the ISA.

This is in despite alleged efforts by the police Special Branch to stop her from doing so, if she wanted to secure her husband’s early release.

“I am glad that my struggle within AIM has led to the release of the seven. I will be going all out to secure my husband’s freedom. God will (ensure that he is released) one day,” she said.