PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin now enjoys an improved diet at Kamunting detention camp.

Raja Petra, 58, confirmed that he has been given bread, eggs and biscuits at the camp as part of his menu after he could not stomach certain food there.

"How am I doing? Just look at my tummy," the Malaysia Today editor said while rubbing his stomach when he was brought to a Sessions Court here for the fifth day of his sedition trial on Monday.

Asked on how he was being treated by others in the camp, Raja Petra said he did not get to mix around as he was placed in solitary confinement for three months.

He said he was spending his time reading. He has been placed at the police Hq in Bukit Aman during the trial.

Asked if he was attending any religious classes at the camp, Raja Petra said, "They (the authorities) will probably do it at another day when I go back to the camp."

Trial postponed
At the outset of the case on Monday, lead prosecutor DPP Ishak Mohd Yusof said the trial was to continue with a fifth witness, Supt Gan Tack Guan, who is the complainant for the case.

However, he told Sessions court judge Balqis Aini Mohd Ali that the trial judge Rozina Ayob was on a medical leave, and asked for a new date for the continuation of the hearing.

The judge then set three days from Nov 10 for the continuation of the trial.

Later, lead counsel J.Chandra applied for Raja Petra to be allowed a further medical check-up at HSC Cheras Specialist Centre on Oct 16 at 10am as recommended by an expert.

He said the specialist had given a report over Raja Petra's condition.

"He (Raja Petra) maintains that his pre-existing condition of lumbar spine degenerative disease was aggravated after moving into detention.

"He feels that the poor sleeping facilities at the detention centre exacerbated his condition," the lawyer said.

Chandra said the specialist had recommended Raja Petra undergo an MRI scan on Oct 16 at the centre.

To this, DPP Roslan Mat Nor said any application by ISA detainee for treatments had to be in accordance with the guidelines of the Rules of the ISA.

"The prosecution will give a letter to the authorities for their further action," he said.