The trio from Semenyih, aged between 15 and 17 were detained on Dec 21 last year for being in possession of a stolen vehicle as well as being public nuisances.
They were held in various police stations for 21 days, and then detained in Semenyih police station under the Emergency Ordinance for another 60 days.
The detention order expired on March 9 but the Home Ministry has now slapped the Restricted Residence Act on them which will last for two years.
They have been sent to Kawasan Linggi in Negeri Sembilan, Berangan in Seminyih and Batang Berjuntai in Kuala Selangor respectively.
Another 21-year-old, who was detained under the same act yesterday, was sent to Kuala Lipis, Pahang.
Suaram coordinator E Nalini said they only came to know about this case yesterday.
"We strongly condemn the home minister's order to place these cases under this unlawful act. It is wrong to detain them as it will restrict their movement and right to education," she added.
Nalini (right) 
also informed Malaysiakini that an appeal letter will be sent to the Home Ministry, requesting the government to grant them a second chance as until now, the charges against the minors have not proven.
She also lamented the minors will be denied rights to an education as two of them will be placed in rural areas. They are aged between 15 and 17, and are supposed to sit for PMR and SPM examinations later this year.
Human Rights lawyer, Charles Hector (left) said: "Placing the three minors under the Restricted Residence Act is not the right option.
"The government is breaching the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by detaining minors and restricting their movement," he added.
He said there are other options whereas the minors can be released under certain conditions such as mandatory reporting to police station once a week.
"A better option would be to charge them in the court, not to detain them under these acts," he added.
The Restricted Residence Act 1933 is an archaic law used actively during the Communist Emergency of 1948-1960 to fight terrorism and deal with matters involving national security.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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