Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia s opposition has welcomed the release of a prominent anti-government blogger, detained under the country s Internal Security Act (ISA), asking the government to abolish the controversial law.

Raja Petra Kamaruddin, editor of the web portal Malaysia Today was released yesterday after a high court judge ordered his release. He was arrested on September 12.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who welcomed Raja Petra s release terming it as a "victory" for Malaysians, said the court s decision offered a new opportunity to rid Malaysia of the unjust law.

A person can be detained for at least two years without trial under ISA and the detention period can also be extended.

London-based Amnesty International also welcomed the court s decision and called on the government to revoke the law immediately.

The authorities arrested Raja Petra, 58,under ISA accusing him of being a threat to public security and causing ethnic tension by publishing writings against Islam.

Raja Petra is also on trial for sedition after suggesting on his highly popular website that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was involved in the murder of a Mongolian woman.
Source : PTI