Hindraf disappointed that visit was distorted

BUTTERWORTH: Hindraf is disappointed with certain politicians and the media for distorting facts about their members’ visit to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Hari Raya open house at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday.

Its national co-ordinator R.S. Thanenthiran said Hindraf had sent an official letter to Abdullah’s office on Sept 22, stating that it members wanted to greet the Prime Minister and personally ask him to release all Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees during his open house.

“The Prime Minister’s senior personal assistant Datuk Ahmad Yaakob accepted our letter and told us that everyone was welcome at Abdullah’s open house.

“We told Ahmad Yaakob that apart from relaying Hari Raya greetings to the Prime Minister, we also wanted to personally ask Abdullah to release all ISA detainees,” he told a press conference here on Friday.

On Wednesday, some 160 Hindraf sympathisers and several Free Raja Petra Kamarudin supporters visited the open house hosted by the Prime Minister and other Muslim Cabinet ministers, causing a short but loud commotion.

Six-year-old W. Vwaishhnavi, the daughter of Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy, presented Abdullah with a teddy bear and a Hari Raya card.

Thanenthiran said Hindraf members went to the open house to “mohon maaf, zahir dan batin” (seek forgiveness) from the Abdullah, and not to be disrespectful by creating a ruckus, as alleged by certain quarters.

He said it was not true that Hindraf sympathisers had jumped queue, noting that they patiently waited for about two hours to meet Abdullah.

He also said no memorandum was presented to Abdullah. Instead he was given a greeting card, flowers and a soft toy.

“We have always reminded our sympathisers to be patient and law-abiding citizens.

“But, we are disappointed with certain quarters who have given the impression that we are violent and provocative,” he said.

Thanenthiran also advised Hindraf sympathisers to stay away from Abdullah’s Hari Raya open house in Kepala Batas on Saturday, to avoid being blamed for causing any disturbance there.

DERRICK VINESH
star Online
03/10/08