Uthaya's Deepavali - alone, ill, in pain, in cold, dark cell

As the Hindu community celebrated the festival of lights yesterday, Hindraf de facto leader P Uthayakumar told of his dark Deepavali in Kajang Prison as his health continues to deteriorate.

In a letter dated Oct 31, Uthayakumar said he was still in solitary confinement near an area where convicts were hung.

"I heard the hanging floor being let loose, as it was being tested, perhaps for an imminent hanging.

"This is my second Deepavali in prison, the first was under Internal Security Act detention at Kemta Prison in 2008. In the last five months of imprisonment, I have lost eight kilograms," the letter read.

Uthayakumar (left), who suffers from diabetes, said his prolapsed disc condition was also worsening but prison doctors are still refusing to refer him to a general hospital.

"Even a referral letter was denied for me to be given my plastic chair (for the prolapsed disc) and warm drinking water as I got fever, flu and cough from drinking prison tap water, to torture me.

"I quietly walked back to my dark, cold, and also hot and stuffy (day time) and dirty and lonely cell at Kajang Prison to spend my dark Deepavali," he said.

Uthayakumar who is serving a sentence for sedition, said he is placed in an area together with violent criminals and murderers who had earlier attacked a fellow prisoner with a knife.

"I am still being refused to be transferred to the safer hospital wing by the cruel Umno-controlled prison even on the occasion of this Deepavali day.

"(I wish) Happy Deepavali to all Hindraf supporters and All Malaysians. My struggle continues," he said.