It pains me to read on Malaysiakini, ‘Uthaya’s niece, 11 others held’. The little girl is not detained but she had gone to detention with her mom. The mother is the wife of the now-banned Hindraf leader.
Though I don’t claim to know the Hindu Indians very well, I know through my observations and few interactions that many of them are indeed living in poverty. An Indian friend told me many of them have been evicted out of their estate homes when the estates stop their agriculture activities, whether rubber or palm oil plantations and sold the land for development. Many of these are left to fend for themselves.
When the Hindraf-5 were detained, their leader cannot afford to return to Malaysia and get detained as well. If he does, there is hardly anyone left to champion for more rights for the marginalised. So, I fully understand why Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy and his whole family sacrificed to fight for them.
In an ideal world, I like to believe that our Prime Minister of Malaysia who is a devout Muslim would put his hand out, accept whatever grievances these group have been trying to tell him. As a caring person, why can’t he come down a level, reach out and not create more fuss? Why does Pak Lah has to snub these group of Indians time and time again? I couldn’t help but shed some tears thinking of the struggles of the Hindraf-5 families and also P. Waythamoorthy’s families. I am sure it takes great courage for his wife to lead the group to try to see the PM.
Contacted on her handphone while waiting for police to record her statement, Shanti said the group had attempted to submit a handwritten letter calling on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release all those detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) .
“The appeal letter (in Vwaishhnnavi’s handwriting) asked the prime minister to release her uncle, (and other Hindraf leaders as well as) RPK (blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, among other ISA detainees,” said Shanti.
“She said that Deepavali would not mean anything to her and all Malaysians, if they are not released.”
Shanti said the letter also included a invitation for Abdullah to attend the family’s ‘open house’ in conjunction with Deepavali.
“(Vwaishhnnavi) wrote that she would be waiting with flowers and cakes,” she added.
Contacted in London by phone, Waythamoorthy expressed outrage that his daughter, wife and supporters had been picked up by police.
For goodness sake, they were there to hand a letter and an invitation to the Prime Minister. Why oh why can’t Pak Lah have a heart and feel for them? Why can’t one human feels for the other? Why does it end up with the six years old girl going to jail because her mom did?
I pray that God will soften Pak Lah’s heart and at the same time, bring peace to everyone for Deepavali. Full news on Malaysiakini.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I think the Hindraf group has been trying to use this little girl, too many times, to get to the soft spot of our PM. Too bad they have used the wrong strategy on the wrong person. He just doesn’t buy it and can’t be bothered to take a look at her. Btw, it might not be good psychologically for this little girl to go through all these. (chey, talk psychology pula…..)
October 24th, 2008 at 1:01 am
domino – I think it is a test of wills. I still remember the yellow roses march where the Hindraf members get water canons. That was one of the main reason BN lost the Indian votes in 12th GE. Yet, Pak Lah never give way still. Hahaha, must talk a bit mah…learn already must apply.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Yalar, the girl yang kena exploit by hindraf people. padan muka kena ban!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
jefri – Eh, but then, if it is your own uncle that is being detained, don’t you want to help to get him out? If it is your father that has been barred from returning to the country, don’t you want to do something too?
October 24th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Jefri, I’m a Malaysian Indian living in Australia, and a doctor by profession and have worked and volunteered with NGOs. My dad is a lawyer (and he is a colleague of some of the HINDRAF 5). All my life we (as a family) have fought for ppl of all races and religions. I was born a Hindu, raised partially a Catholic, my grandmother was a Muslim and I have chosen Hinduism/Buddhism in my life.
Now you may think that the child was a ‘human shield’, like many ppl out there. But i’ll have you know that you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking that the little girl was exploited. I have fought for rights of ppl ever since i was as little as 5!! So please have love and compassion in your heart before spewing words of contempt, as it doesn’t bode well for you.
Lilian, keep up the debates!
October 24th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
People like jefri and bad-awi is the one that should be ban… The “hindraf people” as Jefri called them is just the same as me and everybody. A human being… If it was me, my father, uncle, cousin, mother, friends and etc I too would do the same thing as the hindraf group did.
And my two cent, I don’t think that the hindraf group is the extremist that the gov and some narrow minded people thought. Have they use any bomb, any guns, kill people, beaten people….