The Malaysian government has launched a renewed crackdown on political opponents. On April 10-11, 2001, just days before public protests planned for the second anniversary of the sentencing of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, seven opposition leaders were detained under Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA). In subsequent days, authorities detained three more people under the same law, including prominent human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail, 56. The ISA allows the detention of suspects for up to two years without trial, with the possibility of renewal after that.

Nine of the ten recent ISA detainees are well-established opposition figures and most are members of the opposition party Keadilan (Justice), founded by Wan Aziziah, Anwar's wife. All ten were held incommunicado, without access to family or lawyers, until May 4. At this writing, the families of five of the detainees had not yet been allowed prison visits. None of the detainees have been charged.

Human Rights Watch, in its global review of rights developments in 2000 (World Report 2001), noted that the human rights situation in Malaysia had deteriorated, largely because of Prime Minister Mahathir's determination to crush his political rivals. As has widely been reported, Mahathir's efforts to discredit and disgrace Anwar Ibrahim have weakened Mahathir's political support among the majority Malay population in Malaysia. In response, the government has used a variety of laws to restrict freedom of expression and police have repeatedly forcefully broken up peaceful rallies. These moves have also cast further doubt on the independence of Malaysia's judicial system. The ten individuals jailed under the Internal Security Act (ISA) are only the most recent victims.

In response to the recent arrests, a new coalition of Malaysian rights groups has formed, the Anti-ISA Movement (AIM), dedicated to repeal of the often-abused Internal Security Act (ISA). Malaysia's newly formed national human rights commission (known by its Malay acronym Suhakam) has called for review of the ISA and other laws, and for amendment or repeal of those that infringe human rights. Suhakam has also formally requested but been been denied access to the current group of ISA detainees.

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