HOME MINISTRY TO APPEAL COURT DECISION TO RELEASE RAJA PETRA

KEPALA BATAS (Malaysia), Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi said the government had always exercised prudence in detaining anyone
under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He said the decision to detain these individuals under the ISA must have
strong grounds and not done indiscriminately.

"The detention cannot be carried out without strong reasons and facts," he
told reporters after opening the Kepala Batas Umno delegates' meeting, here
Sunday.

Kepala Batas is a town in the northern part of Penang, Malaysia.

He said this when asked to comment on the decision of the Shah Alam High
Court to release blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin from detention under the ISA
recently.

Abdullah said the government respected the decision of the court but would
file an appeal very soon.

He said he had been informed of the matter by the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said Malaysia respected the decision of the
Indonesian court in the execution of the three men who were convicted for the
bombing incident in Bali several years ago.

He said the Indonesian court had made the decision and hoped there would be
no adverse reaction from the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group following the execution
of the three members of the JI by firing squad this morning.

However, he said Malaysia would always exercise caution concerning the
execution and would ensure that national security was under control.

-- BERNAMA