KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan, who won the seat while under ISA detention, is most likely to resign on May 19 as he is not free yet to serve his constituents.
While his impending resignation could lead to a by-election for political parties fatigued with politicking, Manoharan is more frustrated with his DAP colleagues for allegedly not working hard enough to free him from detention.
His family finances have also hit rock bottom, close friends said, after 17 months being detained without trial for his involvement in the now outlawed Hindraf.
Manoharan had a lucrative legal practice and was a sought after lawyer both by the poor and the rich.
However, his wife S. Pushpaneela told The Malaysian Insider a formal decision would only be made after Manoharan meets with lawyer and DAP national chairman Karpal Singh on May 19 at the Kamunting detention centre.
“Until then there is no formal decision,” she said when contacted today after meeting her husband at the detention centre.
“He is very unhappy with how things have turned out. He remains in detention, his family is pining for him, our finances have all but collapsed and we have to make some really hard decisions,” she said.
“Such urgent decisions are necessary for us, the DAP and the constituents,” she added.
Karpal holds a special place for them because Manoharan earned his stripes as a lawyer under Karpal’s tutelage and has been a friend, colleagues and adviser.
While his wife was more circumspect, Manoharan detailed his frustration in a statement faxed to The Malaysian Insider where he says he is at his wits’ end.
He apologised to his constituents for being unable to serve personally and proceeded to list out a litany of woes he faces but stopped short of announcing his resignation.
“But the fact remains that over the last 14 months I have not been able to effectively serve the public, in particular the constituents of Kota Alam Shah.
“I feel a sense of guilt of being unable to serve the voters who have voted me as their representative,” he added.
“I now have to consider resigning as assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah, paving the way for a by-election in order for my constituents to re-elect their new representative who will be better able to serve them,” Manoharan said.
“I tried my very best in appealing to the authorities and by way of applications to free me in order for me to effectively serve the public and my constituents in particular,” he said. “I have exhausted all avenues for my release.”
Manoharan said he had sent three letters to ex-Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, three more letters to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, eight letters to former Home Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar, and two letters to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
“My applications to the home minister to attend the state assembly sittings were all rejected,” he disclosed.
He said the ISA advisory board has also rejected his pleas for freedom.
The High Court has also dismissed his three habeas corpus applications and the Federal Court dismissed all three appeals.
“My 17 months of detention thus far have been very painful, which has been made worse by me being in the state of helplessness in being unable to serve my constituents.
“As such, I hereby wish to inform that I will announce my official decision (to resign or not) after meeting party chairman Karpal Singh,” Manoharan said.
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