IPOH, Oct 4 — The MIC will not place any conditions or pressure on the government to free the five Hindraf leaders now in detention under the Internal Security Act, party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today.
"We want to give the freedom and believe fully in the Home Minister to make the decision," he told reporters after officiating a programme to rebrand the MIC here.
Samy Vellu said the MIC would continue to discuss with the government on freeing the Hindraf leaders though there were some who felt uneasy over the party's effort.
He said this when asked whether the MIC would request the government to free the five leaders before Deepavali on Oct 27.
Samy Vellu said he would meet Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar next week to request again for the Hindraf leaders to be freed.
"I last saw him on the first day of Hari Raya and had the opportunity to discuss the issue with him," he said.
According to Samy Vellu, the MIC's effort is in line with its objectives to defend and protect the rights of the Indian community in the country.
"The MIC also wants to pursue this on humanitarian grounds as the families of those involved are suffering and need assistance," he said.
He added that it was mischievous to suggest the party's effort was to gain publicity or become popular.
On the issue of Malaysian Indians with "non-citizen" status, Samy Vellu said a detailed report would be submitted to the Cabinet for discussion by Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also the MIC secretary-general.
The MIC would also discuss the issue at the Cabinet committee concerning the development of the Indian community headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he said.
Samy Vellu said the MIC also supported the proposal by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) for an action committee to be set up by the government to resolve the issue.
He said between 1999 and August 2008, about 200 cases regarding citizenship had been resolved by the MIC.
The MIC leader said about 1,000 people were waiting to receive the birth certificates and he hoped that the matter could be resolved soon. — Bernama
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