Channel NewsAsia Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) have called for a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak to resolve grievances faced by ethnic Indian minorities in Malaysia.
Calling the ruling UMNO party "racist", Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar has and vowed to continue his struggle against ethnic and religious supremacy.
Mr Uthayakumar was detained on Sunday morning while leaving his house to attend a planned rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur, a move which he said was unconsitutional and against the freedom of expression and his right to peaceful assembly.
The 49-year-old activist said he was not afraid of being detained again under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The Malaysian lawyer of Tamil origin was held under the ISA for 18 months for allegedly masterminding an anti-discrimination rally that rocked the capital in November 2007.
During the rally, hundreds were arrested and, Mr Uthayakumar, together with three others, were detained under the ISA.
Mr Uthayakumar, who is Secretary General of the Human Rights Party, said: "I never had any regrets, because ours is a genuine concern. The 514 days actually made me a better person. I was focused during my detention. I was focused on the issues we are championing...I feel that my thinking process is 10 times sharper now, compared to before I went into detention. So in that sense, it made me a better person."
Mr Uthayakumar, who has documented his experience during his 500 days behind bars, has even set up a mock-up cell in his office to remind himself and the party of Hindraf's struggle to improve the lives of ethnic Indian minorities. He has also published a book about his cause.
Mr Najib accused Mr Uthayakumar of exploiting unrest in the Middle East to give Malaysia a bad name.
Speaking after a meeting of the UMNO supreme council, Mr Najib said situation in Malaysia was entirely different from Egypt and Tunisia.
"You can't draw a parallel between Malaysia and the Middle east, nor Egypt. Despite the chaos in the Middle east, BN's majority has actually improved in the by-elections. We hope for the same in the coming Kerdau and Merlimau by-elections," said Mr Najib.
Mr Uthayakumar and a hundred others were arrested ahead of Sunday's planned rally.
"Indians in Malaysia are only 8 per cent of the population. But what I feel the government fears in Hindraf is that we may be the light that sparks the prairie fire," said Mr Uthayakumar.
The Hindraf leader said the fight is far from over and he is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Najib ahead of national polls, that are widely expected to be held later this year.
- CNA/ac/de
Calling the ruling UMNO party "racist", Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar has and vowed to continue his struggle against ethnic and religious supremacy.
Mr Uthayakumar was detained on Sunday morning while leaving his house to attend a planned rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur, a move which he said was unconsitutional and against the freedom of expression and his right to peaceful assembly.
The 49-year-old activist said he was not afraid of being detained again under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The Malaysian lawyer of Tamil origin was held under the ISA for 18 months for allegedly masterminding an anti-discrimination rally that rocked the capital in November 2007.
During the rally, hundreds were arrested and, Mr Uthayakumar, together with three others, were detained under the ISA.
Mr Uthayakumar, who is Secretary General of the Human Rights Party, said: "I never had any regrets, because ours is a genuine concern. The 514 days actually made me a better person. I was focused during my detention. I was focused on the issues we are championing...I feel that my thinking process is 10 times sharper now, compared to before I went into detention. So in that sense, it made me a better person."
Mr Uthayakumar, who has documented his experience during his 500 days behind bars, has even set up a mock-up cell in his office to remind himself and the party of Hindraf's struggle to improve the lives of ethnic Indian minorities. He has also published a book about his cause.
Mr Najib accused Mr Uthayakumar of exploiting unrest in the Middle East to give Malaysia a bad name.
Speaking after a meeting of the UMNO supreme council, Mr Najib said situation in Malaysia was entirely different from Egypt and Tunisia.
"You can't draw a parallel between Malaysia and the Middle east, nor Egypt. Despite the chaos in the Middle east, BN's majority has actually improved in the by-elections. We hope for the same in the coming Kerdau and Merlimau by-elections," said Mr Najib.
Mr Uthayakumar and a hundred others were arrested ahead of Sunday's planned rally.
"Indians in Malaysia are only 8 per cent of the population. But what I feel the government fears in Hindraf is that we may be the light that sparks the prairie fire," said Mr Uthayakumar.
The Hindraf leader said the fight is far from over and he is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Najib ahead of national polls, that are widely expected to be held later this year.
- CNA/ac/de
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