By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Ethnic Indian groups in Malaysia have welcomed the government’s move to drop attempt-to-murder charges against 31 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activists, saying this would send out a positive message about the country.
While thanking the government and in particular Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the groups urged that charges also be dropped against five Hindraf leaders — P. Uthayakumar, R. Kenghadharan, M. Manoharan, V. Ganabathirau and T. Vasanthakumar. They had been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and slapped with a two-year detention last Thursday.
Though Badawi didn’t bring it up at a meeting he had with a crowd of about 5,000 people, he said: “Support me and I will not disappoint you.”
“I value the relationship among Malaysians. I value the multi-ethnicity in the country. This is what gives hope for the future of the country,” The Star newspaper quoted him as saying.
S. Samy Vellu, a minister in the Badawi government and head of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the largest party of ethnic Indians who constitute eight percent of Malaysia’s 27 million population, said the move showed the prime minister’s sensitivity.
“We are very grateful to him for asking the attorney-general to consider the appeal made by the accused’s parents and family members,” he said.
“The MIC deeply appreciates the prime minister’s move in lightening the burden of the families of those who were detained.”
Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Pardip Kumar Kukreja also lauded the move saying that the Indian business community “was very happy with the decision by the government”.
Malaysian Hindu Youth Council president K. Rasa Selvan put it this way: “We thank the government for being concerned and considerate, especially since there were youth, including students, involved.”
“We also hope the prime minister will consider bringing those detained under the Internal Security Act to court and that they be given a trial,” he added.
According to Malaysian Tamil Youth Bell Club Council president Ponniah Peramban, Prime Minister Badawi was concerned and had listened attentively during a meeting on Friday.
“I feel this move is one of the outcomes of that meeting. I also hope more Indian problems will be solved in the future.”
Abdullah had assured leaders and representatives of 14 NGOs, led by Malaysian Hindu Council chairperson R. Nadarajah, during the two-hour meeting at his office that the plight of the Indian community would be looked into and addressed accordingly.
Hindraf had courted controversy after a protest rally it organised Nov 25 was declared illegal and dispersed.