A rally against Umno's racism and the controversial novel Interlok was thwarted when police crack down on Hindraf leaders and supporters.
KUALA LUMPUR: Human Rights Party (HRP) leader P Uthayakumar was arrested here today when police moved in to foil a rally to protest Umno’s racial discrimination policy.
Uthayakumar, HRP pro tem secretary-general, was picked up at his residence at Pantai Hillpark Condominium at about 7.50am and was brought to the Pudu district police headquarters for questioning.
More than 100 others were also arrested including Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam, Kedah HRP president R Ramu, 43, HRP information chief, S Jayathas, and Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) president Kannan Ramasamy.
The rally, planned by HRP and its affiliate Hindraf, was to have started from the iconic Petronas Towers in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) to the Dang Wangi police station, where participants will attempt to lodge complaints against the government.
The march was also in reaction to a government’s decision to assign the novel Interlok as a literature textbook for Form Five students.
The novel by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, first published in 1971 and revised in 2010, was said to contain disparaging remarks about the Indian and Chinese communities.
Police also set up roadblocks as early as 5.30am around the city centre to prevent the march from taking place. The roadblocks were erected mainly in Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Duta-Sungai Buloh Highway.
Police also chased away several Indians at bus stops around the city centre, warning them they will be arrested if they do not leave immediately.
They were also seen arresting anyone suspected to be Hindraf supporters found walking in the city streets. Many innocent by-passers were also stopped and their bags checked.
Peaceful protest
One of the protesters, Chandran, 45, from Klang, told reporters at the KLCC that several supporters have arrived but they were unable to gather.
“Why is it so difficult to move around? We just want to be the voice of the Indian community,” he said. A short while later, he was hauled away.
Meanwhile, about 10 members of Malaysian Tamil Students Progressive Association staged a demonstration in front of the Australian Embassy against Interlok.
In another part of the city, some 300 Hindraf Makkal Sakti supporters staged a protest at the Sri Kortumalai Pillayar temple near Jalan Pudu, with banners and placards.
The crowd had re-grouped here after the initial plan of marching from the KLCC to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters was thwarted.
Among others, the protesters are chanting “Hapuskan Interlok” and “Jangan hina kaum India”.
Speaking to reporters later, Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan lambasted the authorities for cracking down on a peaceful protest.
“We are hounded like dogs. We are not a threat to national security, Umno is the threat,” he said.
Ganesan also listed four demands: release all those detained, ban the Interlok novel, rescind the ban on Hindraf and abolish all racist policies.
Later in the afternoon, many protesters headed in the direction of Jinjang district police headquarters, where Uthayakumar has been detained.
Hunger strike
When contacted, Sambulingam said this was a victory for Hindraf despite their plan to hold a march being foiled.
Sambulingam said that he is currently being held with 120 men and women at the police training centre in Jalan Semarak.
“We are proud about our arrests. We don’t feel guilty. We just want justice, for the Interlok novel to be banned and racism to be stopped,” he told FMT.
“We are innocent civilians without arms and we are gathering peacefully. Why do the cops need to show their might?” he asked.
Sambulingam also claimed that he was assaulted by policemen.
“I was punched and pushed to the ground. They kicked and stepped on me,” he said.
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