Hindraf 5 are not 'a national threat'

A Letter from Santha via M'Kini


I refer to the Malaysiakini report AG: PM did not act in 'cavalier fashion' against Hindraf 5..

So what is the purported crime of the Hindraf 5? Both the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (the then Internal Security Minister) who signed the detention order and the AG Abdul Ghani Patail state that thorough police investigations have deemed them as a ‘threat to national security’.

At the Federal Court, Abdul Ghani Patail argued that the PM had gone through the detailed facts raised during police investigations and that these include the claims,

1. that the appellants had through their past activities raised racial sentiments,

2. had hatred for the government and that;

3. they had links with terrorist organisations such as Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Mr AG if you have ‘detailed facts’ be out with them. The people are fully aware of the movements of the five detainees and their activities. They have been transparent and accountable. There are no secrets involved here unlike the practice of the government and its bodies. What is holding you back? Show us evidence or perhaps there is none or not enough to invoke the ISA.

Is this why there is a constant need to remind the public that the internal security minister has the ‘unfettered discretion’ to issue the detention orders? Mind you, ‘unfettered discretion’ comes with conditions. Further you state that the investigations ‘include the claims’. Claims are not sufficient in matters of national security as opposed to clear cut evidence.

I wish now to inform the PM, the AG, and the entire government that the appellants did not through their activities raise racial sentiments. Rather, racial sentiments were activated the moment the government and the Islamic religious bodies started practicing religious extremism.

M Moorthy was buried a Muslim although he had died a practicing Hindu. This was followed by other ‘body snatching’ cases and conversion matters such as the cases of Lina Joy and M Revathi.

Sentiments that you speak of came about when the government, its bodies, authorities and agents lowered the axe on our sacred statues of Lord Siva , Lord Ganesha and many others, demolishing ruthlessly our temples. Our hearts bled from that day onwards.

Sentiments and more sentiments when you confiscated Christian bibles, preached and practiced Muslim religion to non-Muslim students at schools, when you humiliated non-Muslim students for their believes.

More sentiments when the government turned a blind eye towards equality and equal opportunities for all. More such sentiments amongst the poor, oppressed, marginalised and discriminated came into the picture the moment the government:

- practiced racist policies and schemes such as the NEP.

- curtailed the people’s constitutional right to assemble and to freedom of speech, media and religion

- amended the constitution innumerable times over the past 50 years .Amendments that made this country an Islamic nation erasing the secular state.

- did not take seriously the issues of corruption, a scandalous judiciary and a dishonest and inefficient police force.

- did not take seriously when ministers and their ministries refused to be transparent and accountable in their dealings and;

- refused to take action when ministers openly uttered racist, violent and insulting remarks.

So it would only be rightful to say that in all issues of arousing racial sentiment, the government was the one that made the first move. They are the true perpetrators. The prison in Kamunting should have been filled up with these people who committed the crimes of racial tension and anger. They are the ones who are the ‘threat to national security’.

As to the connection with terrorists such as LTTE, we now challenge you to show us a drop of evidence - we know there is none. The United Kingdom would not accommodate P Waytha Moorthy had there been such links, for they, too, take matters very seriously when it comes to terrorism.

So Mr Prime Minister, with all due respect, the people have lost faith and trust in your government. With the newly formed Pakatan Rakyat in five state governments, already a lot of filth is coming out (it’s only the beginning) about the way this country has been running under your governance and the previous PM. It is unbelievable how things got so out of hand and even more how we allowed these sorts of practices all these years. Because of Hindraf 5 and all the others who fought for justice, Malaysians today have a chance of seeing true democracy.

The accusation of racial sentiments and ‘creating hatred’ towards the government was self-inflicted. The Hindraf 5 are not the cause. Shed your arrogance and listen to what the the people of this nation, its civil society, the NGOs, the political parties and international bodies have to say on this matter and do the right thing - release the Hindraf 5 for they are not extremist or fanatics but true to their profession, only upholding peace and justice. At the same time, get yourself and your government some respect.