MAS SELAMAT HELD UNDER ISA

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), May 27 (Bernama) -- One of the region’s most
wanted militants, Mas Selamat Kastari, who was arrested in Skudai, Johor last
month, is being held for two years under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

"Mas Selamat is under a two-year detention at the Kamunting Detention Centre
in Kamunting, Taiping," a highly placed sources told Bernama Wednesday.

Mas Selamat, the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader of the Singapore chapter, who
escaped from the maximum security detention centre in Singapore in February last
year, was nabbed in Kampung Tawakal, Skudai, Johor on May 9.

According the sources, the detention would mean that the alleged Singaporean
militant would not be extradited to the republic.

Whether Mas Selamat will be handed to the Singaporean authorities would be
discussed towards the end of his detention, said the source.

While under detention, Mas Selamat will be undergoing a rehabilitation
programme which will include debating with religious experts on Islam," said the
sources.

It is learned that an ordinary JI member, Abdul Matin of Ulu Tiram, who was
picked up in April, is also being held for two years under ISA.

According to another source, a villager, Johar Hassan, who was arrested for
renting his house in Kampung Tawakal to Mas Selamat had been placed under
restricted residence.

Johar has to make periodical visits to the nearest police station and is not
allowed to leave his house at night. He must seek permission if he wants to
leave the district.

-- BERNAMA