Bouquet of support: Marina receiving flowers from a supporter who was among those who gathered to demonstrate against the ISA outside the Kamunting detention centre yesterday.
KAMUNTING: Malaysia Today editor and Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Raja Petra Kamarudin has requested a change in his diet at the Kamunting detention centre here.
His wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, said her husband was unable to stomach the food prepared for detainees at the centre, despite having tried several times.
“My daughter told him to eat something but he said he really could not, that he had tried but vomited many times and suffered from diarrhoea,” she told reporters after her second Hari Raya visit with her husband yesterday.
She added that Raja Petra had asked prison authorities if they could serve things like bread and eggs instead of the usual rice and dishes, which were often “smelly”.
Bouquet of support: Marina receiving flowers from a supporter who was among those who gathered to demonstrate against the ISA outside the Kamunting detention centre yesterday
“They told him this could probably only be implemented after Hari Raya,” she said.
Marina also expressed disappointment that on both her visits, she was not allowed to meet with her husband in the open courtyard like the other detainees’ families but had to meet him in his cell.
“They told me the other detainees could meet with their families in the open courtyard but those who were ‘hardcore criminals’ could only have visitations in their cells.
“So I guess they consider my husband a hardcore criminal,” she said.
She added that she was also chastised for wearing a short-sleeved blouse and slacks.
“They told me to put on a coat or something, as they did not want me to offend the other prisoners.
“I told them I was there to meet with my husband and not the others,” she said.
During the visit, about 200 supporters and DAP members from as far as Penang and Kuala Lumpur demonstrated in a show of support for the controversial writer outside the camp.
The group, dressed in “I am with RPK” T-shirts, arrived in droves from 10.30am onwards and held banners calling for the release of Raja Petra and the Hindraf five, and the abolition of the ISA.
They also brought bouquets and hampers, which they presented to Marina and her family members.
Police reinforcements were brought in to direct traffic and handle the growing crowd, which later sang We are Malaysians (to the tune of We are the World) and Selamat Hari Raya.
They dispersed peacefully at 11.40am.
Star Online
03/10/08
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