As financial difficulties start to sink in, the lawyer for the ISA detainees, Karpal Singh had argued for their release at the six-month review by the advisory board.Among the reasons are:
- poor health (Uthayakumar)
- their desire to return home
- they did not pose a security threat
- the hardship faced by their families due to their long absence from gainful employment
“If not released unconditionally, they should at least be released with conditions, so that they can return to their families and their work.”
– Karpal Singh
As provided under Section 13 of the Internal Security Act 1960, the advisory board at Kamunting is to review the detention order every six months, by listening to detainee testimony and considering reports by Special Branch and that filed by the detention centre. The board, with chairman Yaacob Sam and two other civil servants, will present its report to the home minister.