KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 ― Bersih 2.0’s Maria Chin Abdullah is still not been granted access to her lawyers and family to prepare for a court case tomorrow, her lawyers have claimed.

Maria, who is currently on preventive detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, would be attending a hearing on the habeas corpus to challenge her detention tomorrow afternoon.

“We have written but we have got no response from them at all. Her case is tomorrow,” one of her lawyers, Latheefa Koya, told Malay Mail Online when contacted today.

Former Bersih 2.0 chair and prominent lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan tweeted last night to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar claiming lawyers and even Maria's family have been denied access to her since last Sunday despite official request made.

“The last time the family and lawyers saw Maria was last Sunday. We have not seen her since although I believe Suhakam saw her on either Monday or Tuesday.

“In my view this is done to disorientate Maria and is tantamount to cruel and degrading treatment. We really do not understand the need to treat someone like Maria in this harsh manner,” Ambiga told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Police detained 60 year old Maria on November 18 under Section 124C of the Penal Code that criminalises the attempt to commit activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy, and invoked Sosma for the arrest.

The Sosma permits the police to hold individuals for up to 28 days without trial.

Maria previously alleged that she was kept in solitary confinement and denied a bed, which the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) confirmed during an inspection this week.

Khalid responded by saying Maria’s conditions were no different from any other police detainees, and insisted that the detention follows lockup rules and the Prison Act 1995.

Both local and international human rights groups have condemned Maria’s arrest and ongoing detention, while Bersih supporters have gathered every night at Dataran Merdeka here since last week calling for her release.

Suhakam said the arrest under Sosma was unjustified while other rights groups have said the use of Sosma for an organiser of a peaceful rally is abuse of power and that the Malaysian government is trying to suppress dissent by using draconian laws.