The Registrar of Societies, on the instruction of the home minister, lifted the ban via a letter yesterday.
PETALING
JAYA: The government has extended an olive branch to Hindraf on the eve
of Thaipusam by lifting its four-year ban on the non-governmental
organisation.
The matter was made known to Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy via
letter dated yesterday, signed by the Registrar of Societies’ (ROS)
Societies Management Unit’s Dasmond Das Michael Das.
The letter stated that Home Minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) had
decided to lift the ban imposed on Oct 14, 2008, under Clause 5 of the
Societies Act 1966.
The particular clause allows the home minister absolute discretion to
ban any organisation in the interest of national security and public
order.
On Nov 25, 2007, Hindraf mobilised tens of thousands of Indians to
protest against the marginalisation of the community since Merdeka.
The then Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led-government ordered a crackdown on
the protest and arrested five of the key Hindraf leaders under the
Internal Security Act.
The Indian community, being long-time Barisan Nasional supporters,
delivered protest votes to Pakatan which saw the ruling coalition losing
its customary two thirds majority and five states to the opposition
pact.
Asked to comment on removal of the ban, Hindraf adviser N Ganesan (photo) said: “We will have a meeting after Thaipusam before giving an official statement.”
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