‘PSM 6 will be freed if detention is political’

K Pragalath | July 18, 2011

A political aide to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein gave this assurance to two PSM leaders.

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry today gave an assurance that the six detained Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members would be released if their detention was political.

The assurance was conveyed to PSM chairman Dr Nasir Hashim and secretary-general S Arutchelvan when they met Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s political secretary Markiman Kobiran.

Markiman, a former Hulu Langat MP, also said he would relay PSM’s request for a dialogue on the matter to Hishammuddin on July 25, according to Aruthchelvan.

However, he was reluctant to comment on the case as it was being investigated.

Meanwhile, Aruthchelvan questioned Hishammuddin’s motive in detaining the six PSM members.

“What is he up to? Why detain the ordinary members and not the leaders? I am the party secretary- general and Nasir is the chairman. We are willing to be investigated…” he said.

The six detainees are Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar, 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.

Aftey being released, they were re-arrested under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) on July 2.

They were initially charged under Section 122 of the Penal Code for waging war against the King late last month.

In defending their comrades, Arutchelvan admitted that they were socialists and leftists.

“Umno has relations with communist and socialist countries,” he said, citing the Malaysia-Cuba Friendship Society as an example. The society is led by Deputy International and Industries Minister Mukhriz Mahathir.

What’s the problem?

Arutchelvan also said that Hishammuddin should not have any problems meeting him and Nasir.

“He was willing to meet the cow head protesters. I don’t see why he would have problems meeting us,” Arutchelvan said, adding that PSM wants to have a dialogue with the ministry.

The cow head protest took place two years ago in Shah Alam after Malays in Section 23 were offended with the construction of a Hindu temple.

FMT was told that Hishammuddin is with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who is in Italy after an official visit to Britain.

In another development, MCA central committee member Gan Peng Siu said that the detention of the six PSM members worked against the interest of the police.

In a twitter message posted yesterday, he said:

“I tend to feel that no one will believe the PSM6 are waging a war against the nation. Further detention may undermine the credibility of PDRM (police).”

Yesterday, 470 police reports have been lodged by PSM members and supporters nationwide against the detention of the six.