Maria, who is chairperson of Bersih 2.0, the organisers of Bersih 5, was detained on Friday, the eve of the rally under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma.
Under Sosma, the police may detain Maria for up to 28 days and withhold legal representation for two days.
According to Malay Mail Online, Azumin, Maria’s eldest son, told reporters at the Petaling Jaya district police station that his mother suffered from hypertension, osteoarthritis and high cholesterol and that he and his other family members were concerned for her health.
“When I met my mother at the Dang Wangi police headquarters on Sunday, she told us that she was living in a small cell with no proper bed, no blanket, no windows and the lights were left on all the time.
“Although she was in high spirits, these (conditions) have caused (her) sleep deprivation and we fear for her health as she was even forced to skip a medical check-up that day because of her detention.”
He also said that after their brief meeting, he did not know at which location she was now being held at or when he would see his mother again.
“We really don’t know and that is what scares us the most. That our mother will just be taken away from us,” Azumin said.
“Because of that we are just heartbroken right now.”
Also speaking up against the treatment of Maria, was her sister Cynthia, who according to a news report in Malaysiakini said, “My sister should not be treated even worse than a murderer.”
Azumin has since lodged a police report on the matter. He was accompanied by N Surendran of PKR and Eric Paulsen of Lawyers For Liberty.
Paulsen in turn is set to lodge a report with the United Nations on Putrajaya’s decision to detain Maria through the use of a law reserved to combat terrorism.
He also demanded that the police explain why they chose to use Sosma to hold Maria without trial.
“She’s no terrorist,” he said.