Khoo arrest statement

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 3

Khoo arrest statement

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. August 12. A Malaysian student, Khoo Ee Liam, was detained solely tor his activities in Malaysia after his return from New Zealand, the Malaysian High Commissioner (Mr J. D. de Silva) has assured the New Zealand Government.

The arrest of Mr Khooj earlier this year led to wide-! spread student unrest in NewZealand and allegations that! he had been detained by, authorities for his activities! while studying in New Zealand. Mr de Silva’s report was! released today by the Associ-! ate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Walding) who! had sought clarification. I “The Government notes that the charges preferred - against Mr Khoo for his activities during his student days in New Zealand were not sustained in justification of his arrest and detention,” Mr Walding commented. In his letter, Mr de Silva ; said Mr Khoo appealed against his two-year deten- i tion order, imposed for aiding I the illegal Communist Party, i to the Advisory Board, an ! independent body established ; under the Constitution. I

! On July 2. the board said >it was satisfied that Mr Khoo I was a security risk and it ! recommended his detention solely for his activities in I Malaysia after his return in ’September, 1972. "I am sure you will agree I with me that if Mr Khoo’s (detention was based on the I ground of his activities in New Zealand and Australia, I the. logic would be for the Malaysian police to have arrested and detained him immediately upon his return to _ Malaysia in September, 1971,” Mr de Silva said. Mr Khoo was arrested in February this year. Mr de Silva said he regretted that the New Zealand University Students’ Associa-! tion had used Mr Khoo’s case to “discredit the Malaysia Government before the New Zealand public without first availing itself of the full background.”