Malaysian Tamilar Kural president P David Marshel said the eight who are inmates at the Penang Prison suffered from cancer, HIV, diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

He added that they had been isolated as they were unwell and on medication.

“Jelutong MP RSN Rayer met them yesterday to convince them to stop their hunger strike but failed.

“They have also stopped taking their medication. They told Rayer that they would rather die than continue to endure detention.

“All they want is to be bailed as they are not well. They also want a definitive decision on the repeal of Sosma,” the Seberang Perai Municipal Council member said in a press conference outside the prison today.

David said the eight inmates, between 30 and 60 years of age, had “languished” in prison for nearly a year while awaiting formal charges.

To date, he added, public prosecutors had only allowed bail to two Sosma detainees in Penang, one for a heart bypass surgery and the other due to stage four cancer.

For the time being, he said, he would meet the prisons superintendent to discuss the detainees’ health conditions.

Sosma has been seen as a replacement for the Internal Security Act which was repealed in 2012.

The previous Barisan Nasional government had defended the law, saying it was needed to deter extremists, including those linked to the Islamic State.

Under Sosma, a person can be detained for a maximum of 28 days and police can delay his or her access to family and legal counsel for up to 48 hours after arrest.