Operation Lalang as told through Kua Kia Soong’s sketches

Kua Kia Soong's book "Lines of Freedom: Sketches of Operation Lalang" offers a vivid visual record of his 445-day detention during Operation Lalang in 1987. As an activist, Kua was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and held at the Kamunting Detention Camp. Unable to document his experiences with photographs, Kua turned to drawing as a means of coping with the isolation and boredom.

The resulting sketches, which appear in his book alongside those from his earlier work "445 Days Behind the Wire," provide an intimate glimpse into life within the detention camp. Kua's sketches depict the camp's layout, fellow detainees, and guards, as well as personal touches like the flowers his wife would bring him during visits.

The most emotionally charged sketches are from his first 60 days, spent in solitary confinement, where he was deprived of natural light and reading materials. Despite the passage of time, Kua emphasizes the importance of remembering the abuses of Operation Lalang and remaining vigilant against future human rights violations. He urges Malaysians to stand against any laws that allow for detention without trial.