KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — If Hindraf's anti-ISA rally tonight is anything to go by, a cross-section of the public is united in opposing the Act.
Despite the fact that the civil society group champions the cause of ethnic Indians they claim to be marginalised, the 2,000-strong crowd that gathered at the Court Hill Sri Ganesar Temple tonight saw a sizeable number of Chinese and Malays.
Hindraf leaders expressed their surprise as they had not expected such a large crowd. Moreover, they were glad to see Chinese and Malays supporting their cause.
"This is a signal to the government that the Internal Security Act is hated by all Malaysians," legal advisor N. Surendran had declared, a sentiment echoed by both national coordinator R.S. Tanendran and events coordinator R. Kannan.
In turn, the majority Indian protestors also began to chant loudly for the release of controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who had recently been slapped with a two-year detention order.
There were even two blind Malay gentlemen in the crowd.
"I disagree with the ISA. This is not about bringing up the opposition but the fact that the law is archaic. It is now only being used to protect the interests of Barisan Nasional," said one of them, Ramli Abu Bakar, 51.
Su-Ann Wong, 30, had come with a small group of friends to light candles along the pavement outside the temple.
"The people have never incited anything and we've voiced our concerns peacefully but the government sees us as a threat. In fact, with the ISA, it is they who are threatening us," she said.
Her friend, Andrew Ng, 36, called the Act "unacceptable" and "detention without trial does not make sense."
"It doesn't matter who is being held under ISA. I am here to show my support because we all need to make a difference to get rid of the ISA," he said.
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