The police should provide evidence to justify linking the alleged members of the Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) to last November's murder of Lunas state assembly representative Dr Joe Fernandez, said an opposition leader today.

"Since the government is now so certain about the person or persons responsible for the killing of Fernandez, the police should explain why nobody has been charged for his murder although the government has pinned it on the KMM," DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said.

"Is Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai prepared to make a full public statement on the outcome of police investigations into the murder of Fernandez?" Lim challenged.

Norian announced last Thursday that eight individuals, including a PAS Youth leader, had been arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their alleged involvement in the KMM.

He said KMM members had received training from the Mujahidin in Afghanistan.

The police chief also linked KMM to another group who the police said staged a botched bank robbery at the Southern Bank, Jalan Gasing branch last May and was involved in the killing of Fernandez.

The arrests under the ISA since Thursday now stands at 10, including that of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's son Nik Adli.

This came after PAS defied a two-week-old police ban on open-air public rallies and pledged to continue with its political gatherings.

Political reasons

In press reports today, both Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have denied the arrests were due to political reasons as claimed by opposition leaders.

PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali had accused the government of "not only using the ISA but [also acting] cruelly to block peaceful assemblies ... to cover up a split in ruling parties and shift attention away from political and economic problems."

His ally in the opposition front, PAS' Nik Abdul Aziz told The Sunday Star last week, "Whoever is guilty should be tried in an open court."

Last April, the same law was applied on the 10 Keadilan and reformasi activists when Norian alleged they were involved in a "militant attempt to overthrow the government".

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, party youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, party leaders Dr Badrul Amin Bahron, Saari Sungib and Lokman Nor Adam as well as social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais are now serving two-year detention orders in Kamunting. Four were released - two unconditionally, and the other two on court orders.