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Abdul Malek Hussin lost today his bid to regain RM2.5 million in compensation for being unlawfully detained under the archaic Internal Security Act (ISA) for 12 years.

The Federal Court unanimously ruled to uphold a Court of Appeal decision in March this year that the detention was legal.

A parliamentary aide to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Malek had initially launched a civil suit against the police and the federal government and won at the High Court three years ago.

He was also awarded RM2.5 million in damages on claims he was tortured while in custody for 57 days at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Abdul Malek had been arrested outside his home in Ampang, Selangor on September 25, 1998 after giving a speech at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur earlier the same day.

The three-men Bench today, led by Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Alauddin Sheriff, dismissed Abdul Malek's application to reinstate the High Court judgment and ordered him to pay RM20,000 in costs.

The other judges were Datuk Hashim Yusoff and Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Mohd Yusoff.

A grim-faced Abdul Malek, dressed in a dark suit and had his shoulder-length hair held in place with a narrow, black band, told The Malaysian Insider he was disappointed but not surprised at the final verdict.

"The decision was expected, based on the shape of the judiciary we have now," the 54-year-old said.

"What upsets me is that the court has trivialised this matter. It's doubtful the courts can play a role in upholding basic rights," he added.

A former chief of elections watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), Abdul Malek said he was not bothered at losing the money; his concern was that others would continue to be subjected to the oppressive law.

"To get true justice, the ISA must be abolished. To abolish the Act, we must support the party and candidate who will push to create a judiciary that is free from the influence of the executive," he stressed.

"This can only be done by a change of government at the next general election," he insisted - The Malaysian Insider

Note: Abdul Malek Hussin is an old boy