By Eileen Ng

KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia): Suspected Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist Yazid Sufaat, allegedly linked to the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, has been released from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Yazid, 43, was among six ISA detainees released.

The others were two Thais from Kumpulan Pemisah Thai, Muhammad Faizal and Anbalavan, Abdul Rahman and Muhamad Tarmizi, who aided foreign intelligence agencies, and Murad Sudin, who was linked to JI.

Except for Yazid, who was freed last month, the rest were released on Dec 4.

Syed Hamid was speaking to reporters after the Singapore Straits Times had reported that the government had recently released more than a dozen extremists linked to JI.

He said the six were released as they were no longer considered a threat to national security.

"They should be released as they are no longer a threat and will no longer pose a threat to public order or the security of the nation," he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Yazid emerged as a key figure in JI's regional network because of his links to Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen of Moroccan descent who was convicted of conspiracy in the Sept 11 attacks.

Yazid hosted Moussaoui during his visit to Malaysia in September and October 2000.

Eight months earlier, he allowed Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi, the two hijackers of the American Airlines aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon, to use his apartment.

Syed Hamid said Yazid was not detained because of any role in the Sept 11 attacks but for his involvement in JI.

"He was considered a threat because JI was trying to establish an Islamic government in the region. But now, he has been rehabilitated and can return to society."

Syed Hamid said with the release, there were 46 people still detained under the ISA -- 16 for links to JI, 13 linked to militant group Darul Islam Sabah, 10 for falsifying documents, the five Hindraf leaders and two who worked with foreign intelligence agencies.

"We free ISA detainees from time to time when we find that they are no longer a threat to national security. The government will not detain anyone longer than they deserve.

"Usually, people are detained for two years under the ISA but it depends on the recommendations of the detention centre's advisory board."

On another matter, Syed Hamid said he had directed the National Registration Department to open a counter to allow those affected by the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide to replace or renew their MyKad.