The Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members are still being held in custody and the authorties, to deflect more criticism against them, allowed the families to visit the six – but for only 15 minutes.
Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar’s son, M Ravin, said his father complained about the facilities when he met him this morning in Bukit Aman.
“He complained of lights kept on at night and dirty toilets,” said the 18-year-old student at a press conference organised in Bangsar by PSM.
Jeyakumar’s wife, R Mohana Rani added that her husband scolded the police once.
“He got fed up and scolded them for asking the same questions over and over again,” she said.
The “EO 6” as they are now known also includes PSM deputy president M Saraswathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M Sugumaran, youth chief R Sarathbabu and Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan.
The other five PSM activists also had family visits at different places.
Choo is in Selayang, Saraswathi in Jinjang, Letchumanan in Petaling, Sugumaran in Dang Wangi and Sarath Babu in the Jalan Travers police stations .
Five inked affidavits
Saraswathy’s niece, Sasi Indra Devi, said her aunt complained about chest pains and asked why they were still detained instead of being charged in court.
Choo’s girlfriend Wong Pei Chin, 23, said the former was generally satisfied with his conditions.
“He has everything but freedom,” said Pei Chin whose hometown is Simpang Renggam where the EO detention centre is located.
Sugumaran’s brother K Indran said: “He was in tears when we met. He complained of solitary confinement. The interrogation lasted four to five hours each time.”
PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan who also met Sugumaran told FMT that the police had allegedly threatened to torture Sugumaran’s son.
He also added that the lawyers are making representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a release on the grounds of Sugumaran’s ill mother.
As for Letchumanan, his son L Devendran 19 said his father was in good condition.
“We miss him. He told us to take care of his business,” said Devendran about Letchumanan who is an insurance agent.
Sarath Babu’s mother, K Vijayaletchmy, said her son complained of repeated questioning.
“He is having a headache as he can’t understand the repeated questioning. He believes that he would be released by the end of the month,” she said.
Lawyer D Yudistira confirmed that five out of the six have signed affidavits.
“We are disappointed that we couldn’t get Letchumanan’s signature. But we would make an attempt to meet Letchumanan’s son,” said the lawyer.
1 comment:
I’m sure that there are several reforms that Malaysia should undergo. Let’s at least get one thing reformed: education. As it is, there are three language streams in Malaysia. That, is, there are Malay-medium, Chinese-medium, and Tamil-medium schools currently operating in Malaysia. Then somebody decided to teach maths and science in English in all these three school systems. Next, somebody decided to flip-flop and remove the teaching of Maths and Science in English. What’s going on? They introduce English and then they remove it. There are too many flip flops.
Therefore, I read something interesting as a solution. Let me share it with you.
Firstly, lets leave the three language school system as it is.
Let’s focus on kindergarten schools. Let’s allow private kindergarten schools to have total autonomy from political intervention. If private kindergarten schools are allowed to teach the 3R’s (reading, writing, arithmetic) in English, then it may solve the problem.
Hopefully, the next generation of Malaysian children will firstly go for three years to an English kindergarten. After completing a stint in the English kindergarten, next the children will enter primary school. In primary school, they have to choose between Malay, Chinese, and Tamil medium schools. Eventually, they will complete secondary school education.
These students will be more multi-lingual and therefore will be an asset to the nation in a globalizing world.
In any case, almost all the universities (both government and private) use English language text books. Therefore, we have to connect English kindergartens on the one hand with English language text books in universities on the other hand. Do you see the connection now?
In any case, it is better than flip flopping.
If you do agree with me, please copy and remail it to whom it may concern. Those who receive it must in turn copy and remail it to whom it may concern. Let’s get the word around to as many people as possible. Let’s see what happens.
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