DETENTION OF HINDRAF LEADERS UNDER INTERNAL SECURITY ACT (ISA)

From left, P.UTHAYAKUMAR, M. MANOHARAN, R. KENGADHARAN, V. GANABATIRAU and T. VASANTHAKUMAR.


Note : Due to the seriousness of Hindraf actions to our National Security, I publish the write-up in both blogs.

I am not a journalist neither a columnist nor a writer, I am just an ordinary person like many other Malaysians who appreciates our value system to operate normally without any disruption. Our value system is the most unique, rarely found in other parts of the world. We maintain peace, security and political stability through racial and religious tolerance amongst the multi religious, multi racial and multi ethnic society of Malaysian people. We upheld the value system since the inception of this blessed nation half a century ago. Every Malaysian people are taught to uphold the value system since the very day we have the taste of education. Our family institutions, TASKA, TABIKA, primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities teach and propagate the value system accordingly. Our education system is proven to be effective in creating time-tested Malaysian people unique value system none other than high level of tolerance in all aspects of our dealings. It is embedded as part of Malaysian people culture which is too costly to live without it.

Malaysian people from all walks of life understand the meaning of tolerance more than any body else in this universe. It is our culture to respect others and we expect others to reciprocate such respects. Managing a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-ethnic country like Malaysia is not a simple task. All the previous Prime Ministers and the current Prime Minister share a unique leadership quality i.e. to continuously upholding the value system which is regarded as the main ingredient of our success story. As an ordinary citizen, I have the opportunity to live in all eras of the previous and current leaderships of our beloved Prime Ministers. Their legacies live on.

This blessed nation had experienced both easy and turbulent times where we have been tested in the most intense way during the Emergency era, May 13th and the economic crisis. The Malaysian success stories in overcoming major political, racial and economic crisis and tragedies is not by chance but are the results of cohesiveness between the Malaysian people and the government. The dynamics behind the cohesiveness is none other than our extraordinaire high level of TOLERANCE which is the essence of our value system.

Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he reengineers good governance through the initiatives of Islam Hadhari, open management style, human capital development, efficient service delivery system and lastly but not the least is the integrity and transparency in all dealings and business conducts in the public and private sectors respectively. The initiatives are the driving force to escalate our nation’s status to the next level by year 2020. The government had provided the necessary tools to facilitate the realisation of Vision 2020. The way forward as I see it had been planned and strategised in the most tactful manner to avoid miss outs that may lead to the dissatisfaction of the beneficiary i.e. the Malaysian people.

In our journey to achieve the national goals we expect to encounter impediments as rightly put by an English proverb which says, "A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner." Everything is difficult before it becomes easy.

Since its inception, Malaysia had experienced tough challenges of subversive elements, racial tensions, economic crisis and extremism mentioned above. All the past Prime Ministers had proven their credibility and effectiveness in managing national crisis and tragedies where the testimonials are what Malaysia is today.

In the recent weeks the bustling and “business as usual” environment in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur were disrupted by the epitome of mass street protest by groups calling themselves BERSIH and later followed by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force). The incidents were highly sensationalised by foreign media where representative from BERSIH and Hindraf were given substantial airtime to voice their so called grievances. Malaysian Government was under intense scrutiny by the foreign media purportedly for the discrepancies in the Election Commission registered voters list and failure to address racial disparities amongst the Malaysian people of Indian origins. Later Malaysian Government was blatantly accused of practicing ethnic cleansing or genocide to the Indian people in Malaysia.

The Royal Malaysian Police obtained court orders to refrain Hindraf from organising street mass protest but such orders were being ignored by Hindraf. Several Police personnel in the course of executing their duties were injured and Police vehicles were damaged by the unruly behaviour of Hindraf supporters. In the course of maintaining peace and order in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, many Hindraf supporters and its leaders were being detained by the Police and subsequently being charged in the court of law and some were released on bails. Despite the government efforts to use the court of law to address the Hindraf leaders and supporters wrong doings, Hindraf leaders were continuously pursuing their goals by going overseas to garner support. It was widely reported in local media that the Hindraf leaders were meeting terrorist organisation overseas for reasons only known to them.

Yesterday, December 13, 2007 five leaders of the Hindraf have been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), with police saying more could be picked up. The detained leaders are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kengadharan, V. Ganabatirau and K. Vasantha Kumar. Bukit Aman police officers picked them up between 12.30pm and 2.30pm yesterday.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said they were picked up under Section 8(1) of the ISA after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Internal Security Minister, signed their detention order. Their detention is for two years.

The price for disrupting peace and stability in a multi religious, multi racial and multi ethnic country like Malaysia is exceeding far beyond the detention of Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act. Being part of Malaysian people Hindraf leaders and supporters who were born and breed in this country should know the consequences of their actions. The backlashes of their actions are far reaching and long lasting, transcending across Malaysian boundaries that will jeopardise FDI and tourism industry.

The decision by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Internal Security Minister to sign the ISA detention order for the five Hindraf leaders is timely and in line with the Malaysian people aspiration to have peace, security and stability in this country. Let this be a lesson to other trouble makers that our value system is too precious and too esteem to be adulterated and compromised by corrupt minded people like Hindraf.

Well done Mr. Prime Minister, Sir!!!