Around 50 protesters clad in black gathered outside the prison complex’s entrance at around 11.30am and urged the government to abolish Sosma.
M Logesvaran, 49, whose brother is detained under Sosma, said the family members wanted to visit the detainees to determine their health and their living conditions in prison.
However, their applications to visit the detainees were not granted yesterday after prison officials told them that the prison office is closed for five days due to the Thaipusam holidays. Thaipusam falls on Tuesday, Feb 11.
Logesvaran said he was informed this morning that 32 detainees had begun a hunger strike. He added that this led to the family members also deciding to go on a hunger strike outside the complex in solidarity with the detainees.
“All we want is for the prison authorities to just let one of the family members visit the detainees so we know they are all right,” Logesvaran told reporters gathered outside the prison complex.
Human rights group Suaram, which coordinated the protest today, is expected to hold a press conference in the next few hours.
The hunger strike comes soon after the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said it would investigate claims of inadequate medical care and delayed trials faced by several Sosma detainees.
Another protester, Aveline Lordasamy, 35, urged the authorities to grant her brother bail after he was arrested last September for his alleged involvement in secret societies.
“He was charged at the Klang High Court in December but is being detained without bail until May 2028 because the judge will only be available at that time,” she said, adding that the arrest has caused her brother’s family financial hardship.
The families have issued a memorandum demanding the authorities expedite the detainees’ trial dates, release those in poor health or grant them bail.
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy urged the government to send a representative to the protest site to accept the family members’ memorandum.
“The family members feel the responsibility to highlight this issue to the government. They will remain here for several days — or for however long they think is needed,” he said.
Section 13 of Sosma only allows for bail if the offender facing a security offence is aged below 18, a woman, sick or infirm.
Sosma provides the authorities with broad powers against subversion, threats to public order, and acts of terrorism, sabotage and espionage.
Sosma’s critics have described the law as draconian, claiming it infringes on an individual’s fundamental rights, as guaranteed in Article 5 of the Federal Constitution.