MIC leaders laud ISA release, praise PM - Malaysiakini

MIC has commended the government for showing concern and humility by releasing the 13 Internal Security Act detainees, including the three Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.

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MIC president S Samy Vellu in thanking Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, said the release would do good for the image of the country, locally and internationally.

He said their release, especially the three Hindraf leaders, would also bring an end to an episode that had created dissatisfaction among the Indian community.

"We can now move on and concentrate on more pressing matters to bring progress and development to the people," he said in a statement.

He said the prime minister and the home minister had shown concern to the sufferings of the families of the ISA detainees by releasing them so that they could be reunited with their families.

"Our prime minister had kept his promise to be a fair leader and a leader of all Malaysians. He had fulfilled his promise which he made when he took over the leadership of the country.

"The MIC is proud and pledges to give him our full and undivided support. We know he would do more to win back the support and confidence of the people of all races," he said.

'People-centered leadership'

MIC secretary-general and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam in echoing his president’s sentiments, said he was grateful to the prime minister, home minister and the government for releasing the 13 detainees.

"It shows that the government under the leadership of Najib is people-centered and understood the feelings of the people," he said, adding that the release would further improve the image of the new government.

On the release of the three Hindraf leaders, he said it would reduce whatever ill-feelings prevalent within the Indian community.

"This would assist in the government's effort to reach out to the Indians," he added.

MIC information chief and Deputy Federal Territories Minister M Saravanan also expressed gratitude to the government over its decision to release the detainees, especially the Hindraf three.

"This move shows that the government is receptive to the sentiments and views of the Indian community in this country," he said.

On the same note, he also advised the Hindraf leaders to "sit down and discuss" their problems and grouses with the government.

"The government under the new leadership is more open and sensitive, there are now avenues to discuss issues that crop up from time to time," he said.

MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari meanwhile said the release of the three Hindraf leaders must now be followed up by the government by allowing Hindraf's chairperson P Waythamoorthy to return to Malaysia from his exile in London.

"The government must allow him to return without any conditions. No threats of arrest or any forms of pressure must be given," he said.

"With his return, it will bring about a complete closure to the whole issue which has affected the Indian community.

"And we can all get together to work in unison for the community," he said.

MIC Youth chief T Mohan hoped that Indians would now return en masse to support MIC, the sole Indian representative in the Barisan Nasional coalition.

"The MIC president had several times urged the then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release the five from detention," he said.

MIC Youth would go to the ground to publicise the efforts of the Najib government which had been proactive to the needs of the Indian community, he added.

Why not immediately?

After assuming the reins in April, Najib ordered the release of the first batch of 13 ISA detainees, which included two Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau and R Kenghadharan

The Hindraf leaders who still remain in detention are P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan and T Vasanthakumar.

The five were detained in December 2007 shortly after staging a massive street protest which saw tens of thousands of Indian Malaysians taking to the streets to vent their frustration against the government.

While welcoming the release, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang however asked Hishammuddin why he could not release the detainees immediately instead of the 'next two or three days'.

"If the police could effect arrests with immediate effect, why can't they effect releases when such a decision is taken?

"Is Hishammuddin aware that one of the three mottos of the new prime minister is 'Performance Now'?" he said.

'Diversion tactic'

In a related development, Hindraf's exiled leader P Waythamoorthy said he was glad that the incarceration of the movement’s lawyers had finally come to an end.

But on the same note, he added: "It is blatantly obvious that the release is to divert the attention of the Malaysian public of the ugly episode in the Perak state legislative assembly yesterday.”

Waythamoorthy, who is currently in London, said there were other issues that the government must address.

These, he added, included fulfilling the 18-point demands that were submitted to the government by Hindraf in 2007.

"The government must also acknowledge the neglect and positive marginalisation of Indian Malaysians over the last 52 years and apologise for its wrongdoing to the Indian community.

"All ISA detainees have to be released unconditionally (immediately) and the government must order the closure of Kamunting detention camp and the repeal of ISA," he said.

He also urged the new administration to take positive steps to uphold the Rule of Law and the Federal Constitution.

"All persons unjustly arrested and charged for illegal assembly/sedition and other politically motivated charges be released and charges against them be withdrawn," he said.

Waythamoorty also called on the government to pave the way for a fresh state elections in Perak.