Anti-ISA activists at PM open house

Andrew Ong | Oct 1, 08 6:28pm

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came face to face with at least 40 activists calling for the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the release of all detainees under the law. A visibly amused Abdullah shook hands and greeted the activists at the Hari Raya open house in PWTC hosted by him and his cabinet ministers. Abdullah was smiling throughout as he shook hands and exchanged small talk with the activists, as his jittery bodyguards looked on. "He asked how I was and remembered we met in August," said blogger and lawyer Haris Ibrahim. "I replied by saying ‘Please, please, please, please, please abolish the ISA." Haris led a group of about 20 bloggers who wore T-shirts bearing ‘No to ISA' and ‘Free RPK' in reference to the two-year ISA detention of Raja Petra Kamaruddin. These activists were soon followed by another bigger group from Hindraf - numbering some 200 and wearing bright orange T-shirts - who had wanted to deliver the same message to the premier. However this second group's effort was hindered by police who insisted that only a small number of them can be allowed to meet the prime minister up close. Subsequently about 20 of them met up with the premier. Forgiveness Led by K Shanti, the wife of Hindraf leader in exile P Waythamoorthy, the group handed Abdullah a teddy bear bouquet and a large Hari Raya card. "I asked him when my husband could come back safely and he replied ‘so you are the chairperson's wife'. He said that he would look into," said Shanti. Hindraf's Hari Raya card however was badly torn after police tried to confiscate it at the entrance to PWTC. After a minor scuffle, the Hindraf activists managed to hang on to it. "In the spirit of forgiveness during Aidilfitri celebrations, we wanted to express that the Indian Malaysians forgive him for sending Hindraf leaders to Kamunting," added Shanti, when asked about the content of the card. Both groups stressed that their activists did not eat any of the food offered during the event, which the government host annually, because their sole intention was to send a message to Abdullah. Photo captions Hindraf activist wait for about 30 minutes in line to enter PWTC banquet hall K Shanti explains Hindraf's Hari Raya card to the police Police trying to confiscate the card Hindraf coordinator S Jayathas complains over crumpled card Hindraf leader in exile P Waythamoorthy's daughter W Vwaishhnnavi holds teddy bear gift for prime minister Several supporters of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin T-shirt condemning use of ISA on Raja Petra Visitors to the open house at the buffet spread Hindraf activists walk orderly in single file through a banquet hall while looking for the prime minister The activists were stopped some 6 metres away from the prime minister Abdullah smiles as he greets the activists. Looking on is his wife Jeanne Abdullah and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak Bloggers pose after accomplishing their mission