Malaysia bans Hindu Rights Action Force
Press Trust of India
Thursday, October 16, 2008, (Kuala Lumpur)
The Malaysian government has banned the non-governmental Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), branding it as a threat to national security.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar on Wednesday issued a statement declaring Hindraf, which has been advocating ethnic Indian rights since late last year for the minority community, an illegal organisation.
He said the government move followed the result of monitoring and investigations by the country's Registrar of Societies (RoS) since Hindraf was formed.
"As a result of the investigations, the Home Ministry, as per its authority under sections 3 and 5 of the Societies Act 1966, has declared Hindraf unlawful and detrimental to peace, public order, security and the moral values of Malaysia," he said in the statement.
Albar accused the Hindraf of exploiting "racial issues which caused an uprising against the government and created hatred between them and the Malays. I feel that if we don't rein in their activities, they will continue to jeopardize security and public order, our country's sovereignty, as well as upset the harmony among races."
Hindraf came into international focus after it organized a massive rally on November 25 last year to protest alleged marginalisation of the ethnic Indian minority in this country.
More than 20,000 people attended the rally, which was branded as illegal by the government. The large participation took the Abdullah Badawi government by shock. A large section of the ethnic Indians supported the Hindraf as they felt that the Malaysian Indian Congress, led by Samy Vellu, had done little to uplift the community over the past several decades.
Syed Hamid said the decision to ban the movement was not made based on only one or two misdemeanours committed by Hindraf, but covered the entire gamut of activities the group had been involved in since its inception.
"Hindraf submitted a registration application to the RoS on October 16 last year.The application had not been approved, but it went ahead and organised several public gatherings and demonstrations without a permit," he said.
"Considering all the facts and evidence we have, I am satisfied that Hindraf was and is being used in a manner detrimental to public order and national security," New Staraits Times quoted him as saying on Thursday.
An opposition MP has called the government's decision to ban Hindraf as ridiculous and uncalled for, adding that he would move an emergency motion asking for an open debate in Parliament on Thursday.
"This is against the interest and aspirations of the Indian community that is seeking a more tolerant and fair government," M Kulasegaran said, adding that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had agreed to hold a dialogue with Hindraf leaders but "nothing was done".
Hindraf national coordinator, R S Thanenthiran said the ban was unfair as they had not committed any crime or broken any laws, adding that Syed Hamid could have done this in retaliation to the police reports Hindraf supporters lodged against him.
Thanenthiran said Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy, who is in self-exile in Britain, had instructed coordinators to wait for a day before making further statements.
Coalition of Indian NGOs secretary-general Gunaraj George said that by banning Hindraf, Syed Hamid had rendered the Indian community voiceless, but said it would not dampen the spirit of its supporters.
"I know that their struggle will go on especially to free all those detained under the Internal Security Act," Star newspaper quoted him as saying.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080068936
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Waytha slams Utusan, TV3 and UMNO linked NGO
Waythamoorthy slams Utusan, TV3 and UMNO linked NGO~malaysiakini
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy has taken Malay daily
Utusan Malaysia and television station TV3 to task over their 'biased and invalidated' reporting.In a statement today, he said: "This was a clear to invoke racial tension."He was responding to reports regarding Hindraf's visit to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's open house at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday."The visit has been demonised and given the impression that a criminal act was committed and Islam insulted. "It is indeed shocking that federal ministers, senior professors and government officials do not have the intelligence to differentiate between a memorandum and greeting card," he said.
Waytamoorthy, who is currently in self-exile in London, also noted that Hindraf's previous pleas for a dialogue with the prime minister have fallen on deaf ears."The open house is the only day in the year a commoner could make the acquaintance of the PM personally and Hindraf took the liberty to send a clear message- release all prisoners held unjustly without trial in spirit of forgiveness," he said.
Reveal photos and videos
The Hindraf chief also slammed Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar for interpreting the event as an insult to Islam. "We challenge Utusan (Malaysia) and TV3 to make public their photographs and video recordings to prove that Hindraf supporters behaved in an inappropriate manner."To the contrary we have evidence that the PM and his deputy were all smiles and accepted the greetings and card with an open heart," he added.
Last December, five Hindraf leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act several weeks after they had organised a mammoth street protest in Kuala Lumpur. They remain incarcerated without trial at the Kamunting Detention Centre.
Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy said the Umno-led government failed to realise that Malaysians were at a different wavelength now and could judge for themselves what truth, justice and equality means."Utusan Malaysia and TV3 can continue to act as an apparatus of the ruling government with their inept propaganda, but they fail to comprehend that most Malaysians are equipped with their own resources without any real need for their ultra bias commentary," he added.
Legal action
On Saturday, Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran said the movement would initiate legal action against Utusan Malaysia over its reports. According to him, Hindraf was disturbed by the reports which he claimed were 'tainted by lies and distorted facts.'He said the Utusan Malaysia front page report under the headline – 'Hindraf Keterlaluan' (Extreme Hindraf) was unfair and communal, and seemed to suggest that the movement was made of extremists out to disrupt Muslim festivals and pour scorn on Islam.
Criticising another article - Baharom Mahusin's commentary in the same edition, Thanenthiran said the writer was unfair, attempted to incite racial hatred and instigate communal conflict.
Among others, Baharom had penned that 'kalau penyokong Hindraf melakukan penghinaan seumpama itu di kawasan-kawasan pendalaman yang menjadi kampung halaman orang Melayu, mereka sudah pun diajar tentang makna dan akibat berperangai kurang ajar.' (If Hindraf supporters poured such insults in the interior areas dominated by Malays, they would have been taught a lesson on the meaning and consequence of misbehaviour.)
source: malaysiakini
http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.com/2008/10/waythamoorthy-slams-utusan-tv3-and-umno.html
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy has taken Malay daily
Utusan Malaysia and television station TV3 to task over their 'biased and invalidated' reporting.In a statement today, he said: "This was a clear to invoke racial tension."He was responding to reports regarding Hindraf's visit to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's open house at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday."The visit has been demonised and given the impression that a criminal act was committed and Islam insulted. "It is indeed shocking that federal ministers, senior professors and government officials do not have the intelligence to differentiate between a memorandum and greeting card," he said.
Waytamoorthy, who is currently in self-exile in London, also noted that Hindraf's previous pleas for a dialogue with the prime minister have fallen on deaf ears."The open house is the only day in the year a commoner could make the acquaintance of the PM personally and Hindraf took the liberty to send a clear message- release all prisoners held unjustly without trial in spirit of forgiveness," he said.
Reveal photos and videos
The Hindraf chief also slammed Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar for interpreting the event as an insult to Islam. "We challenge Utusan (Malaysia) and TV3 to make public their photographs and video recordings to prove that Hindraf supporters behaved in an inappropriate manner."To the contrary we have evidence that the PM and his deputy were all smiles and accepted the greetings and card with an open heart," he added.
Last December, five Hindraf leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act several weeks after they had organised a mammoth street protest in Kuala Lumpur. They remain incarcerated without trial at the Kamunting Detention Centre.
Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy said the Umno-led government failed to realise that Malaysians were at a different wavelength now and could judge for themselves what truth, justice and equality means."Utusan Malaysia and TV3 can continue to act as an apparatus of the ruling government with their inept propaganda, but they fail to comprehend that most Malaysians are equipped with their own resources without any real need for their ultra bias commentary," he added.
Legal action
On Saturday, Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran said the movement would initiate legal action against Utusan Malaysia over its reports. According to him, Hindraf was disturbed by the reports which he claimed were 'tainted by lies and distorted facts.'He said the Utusan Malaysia front page report under the headline – 'Hindraf Keterlaluan' (Extreme Hindraf) was unfair and communal, and seemed to suggest that the movement was made of extremists out to disrupt Muslim festivals and pour scorn on Islam.
Criticising another article - Baharom Mahusin's commentary in the same edition, Thanenthiran said the writer was unfair, attempted to incite racial hatred and instigate communal conflict.
Among others, Baharom had penned that 'kalau penyokong Hindraf melakukan penghinaan seumpama itu di kawasan-kawasan pendalaman yang menjadi kampung halaman orang Melayu, mereka sudah pun diajar tentang makna dan akibat berperangai kurang ajar.' (If Hindraf supporters poured such insults in the interior areas dominated by Malays, they would have been taught a lesson on the meaning and consequence of misbehaviour.)
source: malaysiakini
http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.com/2008/10/waythamoorthy-slams-utusan-tv3-and-umno.html
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Waytha slams Mahathir for racism comment
Mahathir under fire from exiled Hindraf leader
Ahti Veeranggan | Jun 21, 08 7:12pm
Dr Mahathir Mohamad came under fire today for suggesting that the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) was made up of Tamil racists.
Exiled Hindraf leader P Waytha Moorthy slammed the former premier's racist attack as "typical of Mahathir trying to erase all his wrongdoings during his 22-year dictactor-like rule as the country's fourth prime minister."
All Malaysians, he said, know that Mahathir was single handedly responsible for wiping out the impartiality of the legislative, judiciary and executive powers through widespread abuse or power, corruption, nepotism and cronyism as well as destroying racial harmony in multi racial Malaysia.
"We are disappointed but not surprised by Mahathir's remarks. He is bent to safeguard his personal agenda rather than Malaysian interests", Waytha Moorthy added.
In a blog post this week, Mahathir chided MIC president Samy Vellu for campaigning alongside DAP chairperson Karpal Singh and former UN special rapporteur Param Cumaraswamy in calling him (Mahathir) a racist.
He criticised Samy Vellu for requesting the government to release the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act despite the fact that Hindraf represented Tamil racists, whose motives were akin to Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka and were seeking their former British colonial masters to protect them and did not believe in Malaysian institutions.
"Hindraf speaks not just of Indians but of Tamils as a separate race. Hindraf and its apologists are racist to the core," Mahathir wrote.
"His racial sling shots hurled at others will not undo the damage he had done to the country, nor will it address his failures as premier to provide equal and fair education, business, economic and religious opportunities to all, especially Malaysian Indians," said Waytha Moorthy in his online posting to his Makkal Sakti supporters, as Hindraf is popularly known now.
Indians conveniently ignored
Pointing out that Hindraf represents the oppressed and suppressed Malaysians of Indian origin, so systematically marginalised over the years, he stressed that the struggle for equality and fairness goes beyond race, religion, creed and skin colour.
The administrations under both Mahathir and current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Waytha Moorthy said, have conveniently ignored and swept under the carpet the plight and grievances of Indian Malaysians raised by Hindraf over the years.
"However, Mahathir will continue with his usual antics to divert attention from his wrongdoings which are all being uncovered now," said the exiled Hindraf chairperson.
Waytha Moothy's brother Uthayakumar, Kota Alam Shah state rep M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar are being detained in Kamunting Detention Centre, Taiping since last Dec13 last after organising a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 against perceived marginalisation and discrimination of Malaysians of Indian origin.
MIC deputy president G Palanivel has rebuked Mahathir's wrong perception on Hindraf and reminded the former premier "to remember his own roots" before making such statements, obviously referring to the former premier's forefathers, who are from South India.
It is an open secret that Mahathir's father, a school teacher, migrated to Malaysia from the southern Indian state of Kerala and subsequently married a Malay woman.
Waytha Moorthy likened Mahathir's continuous political and racial bickering as 'a broken record' failing to seek solutions on the grievances of the oppressed and suppressed Indian Malaysians.
Hindraf's goal, he pointed out, was to defend and protect Indian Malaysians in their quest for equal and fair participation in the educational, religious and economic spheres, and to set themselves free from the current oppressive system practiced by the ruling administration that clearly defied basic human right and freedom.
http://singaporeindianvoice.blogspot.com/2008/06/mahathir-under-fire-from-exiled-hindraf.html
Ahti Veeranggan | Jun 21, 08 7:12pm
Dr Mahathir Mohamad came under fire today for suggesting that the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) was made up of Tamil racists.
Exiled Hindraf leader P Waytha Moorthy slammed the former premier's racist attack as "typical of Mahathir trying to erase all his wrongdoings during his 22-year dictactor-like rule as the country's fourth prime minister."
All Malaysians, he said, know that Mahathir was single handedly responsible for wiping out the impartiality of the legislative, judiciary and executive powers through widespread abuse or power, corruption, nepotism and cronyism as well as destroying racial harmony in multi racial Malaysia.
"We are disappointed but not surprised by Mahathir's remarks. He is bent to safeguard his personal agenda rather than Malaysian interests", Waytha Moorthy added.
In a blog post this week, Mahathir chided MIC president Samy Vellu for campaigning alongside DAP chairperson Karpal Singh and former UN special rapporteur Param Cumaraswamy in calling him (Mahathir) a racist.
He criticised Samy Vellu for requesting the government to release the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act despite the fact that Hindraf represented Tamil racists, whose motives were akin to Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka and were seeking their former British colonial masters to protect them and did not believe in Malaysian institutions.
"Hindraf speaks not just of Indians but of Tamils as a separate race. Hindraf and its apologists are racist to the core," Mahathir wrote.
"His racial sling shots hurled at others will not undo the damage he had done to the country, nor will it address his failures as premier to provide equal and fair education, business, economic and religious opportunities to all, especially Malaysian Indians," said Waytha Moorthy in his online posting to his Makkal Sakti supporters, as Hindraf is popularly known now.
Indians conveniently ignored
Pointing out that Hindraf represents the oppressed and suppressed Malaysians of Indian origin, so systematically marginalised over the years, he stressed that the struggle for equality and fairness goes beyond race, religion, creed and skin colour.
The administrations under both Mahathir and current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Waytha Moorthy said, have conveniently ignored and swept under the carpet the plight and grievances of Indian Malaysians raised by Hindraf over the years.
"However, Mahathir will continue with his usual antics to divert attention from his wrongdoings which are all being uncovered now," said the exiled Hindraf chairperson.
Waytha Moothy's brother Uthayakumar, Kota Alam Shah state rep M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar are being detained in Kamunting Detention Centre, Taiping since last Dec13 last after organising a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 against perceived marginalisation and discrimination of Malaysians of Indian origin.
MIC deputy president G Palanivel has rebuked Mahathir's wrong perception on Hindraf and reminded the former premier "to remember his own roots" before making such statements, obviously referring to the former premier's forefathers, who are from South India.
It is an open secret that Mahathir's father, a school teacher, migrated to Malaysia from the southern Indian state of Kerala and subsequently married a Malay woman.
Waytha Moorthy likened Mahathir's continuous political and racial bickering as 'a broken record' failing to seek solutions on the grievances of the oppressed and suppressed Indian Malaysians.
Hindraf's goal, he pointed out, was to defend and protect Indian Malaysians in their quest for equal and fair participation in the educational, religious and economic spheres, and to set themselves free from the current oppressive system practiced by the ruling administration that clearly defied basic human right and freedom.
http://singaporeindianvoice.blogspot.com/2008/06/mahathir-under-fire-from-exiled-hindraf.html
Monday, June 16, 2008
Hindraf calls for repeal of ISA
Hindraf calls for repeal of ISA
From ANI
Kuala Lumpur, June 16: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) took to the streets here over the detention of their leaders under the Internal Security Act (ISA), and demanded repeal of the ISA.
The group travelled in a convoy of more than 50 cars and six motorcycles with banners calling for the abolition of the ISA.
The protest started from Rawang at 8.30 a.m. and ended in Klang at about 5 p.m. The protestors travelled through Sentul, Brickfields and Shah Alam.
According to the New Strait Times, police personnel were stationed at all major intersections to prevent any untoward incidents.
Copyright Asian News International
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/250266.php/Hindraf-calls-for-repeal-of-ISA
From ANI
Kuala Lumpur, June 16: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) took to the streets here over the detention of their leaders under the Internal Security Act (ISA), and demanded repeal of the ISA.
The group travelled in a convoy of more than 50 cars and six motorcycles with banners calling for the abolition of the ISA.
The protest started from Rawang at 8.30 a.m. and ended in Klang at about 5 p.m. The protestors travelled through Sentul, Brickfields and Shah Alam.
According to the New Strait Times, police personnel were stationed at all major intersections to prevent any untoward incidents.
Copyright Asian News International
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/250266.php/Hindraf-calls-for-repeal-of-ISA
Monday, May 19, 2008
Malaysia's Mahathir quits ruling party
Malaysia's Mahathir quits ruling party (The Hindu, 19 May 2008)
Kuala Lumpur (PTI): Former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohammad on Monday announced that he was quitting the ruling party in protest against the leadership of his successor Abdullah Badawi, whom he blamed for the group's disappointing performance in the March general election.
82-year-old Mahathir, who was Prime Minister for 22 years before he handpicked Abdullah for the job, urged other members of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party to quit too as a way of pressuring the incumbent into stepping down.
The ties between the two had been on the decline after Abdullah did not implement some of the Mahathir's project ideas.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, of which UMNO is the largest component party, won the March 8 election with a simple majority, losing one third of seats in the Parliament and five states to opposition.
However, Mahathir advised those who do quit not to join any opposition party.
Abdullah has so far refused all calls for him to step down and said he would defend his leadership in the party polls in December, the Star online report said.
Mahathir joined UMNO at its inception in 1946. After the May 13, 1969 riots Mahathir was sacked from the party's Supreme Council because of the widespread distribution of his letter to first Prime Minister Abdul Rahman criticising the latter's manner of handling the country's administration.
Mahathir rejoined UMNO in 1972. He was Prime Minister of Malaysia from July 16, 1981, until October 31, 2003.
UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib said he was surprised at the decision, but added that it was Mahathir's right to do so.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200805191321.htm
Kuala Lumpur (PTI): Former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohammad on Monday announced that he was quitting the ruling party in protest against the leadership of his successor Abdullah Badawi, whom he blamed for the group's disappointing performance in the March general election.
82-year-old Mahathir, who was Prime Minister for 22 years before he handpicked Abdullah for the job, urged other members of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party to quit too as a way of pressuring the incumbent into stepping down.
The ties between the two had been on the decline after Abdullah did not implement some of the Mahathir's project ideas.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, of which UMNO is the largest component party, won the March 8 election with a simple majority, losing one third of seats in the Parliament and five states to opposition.
However, Mahathir advised those who do quit not to join any opposition party.
Abdullah has so far refused all calls for him to step down and said he would defend his leadership in the party polls in December, the Star online report said.
Mahathir joined UMNO at its inception in 1946. After the May 13, 1969 riots Mahathir was sacked from the party's Supreme Council because of the widespread distribution of his letter to first Prime Minister Abdul Rahman criticising the latter's manner of handling the country's administration.
Mahathir rejoined UMNO in 1972. He was Prime Minister of Malaysia from July 16, 1981, until October 31, 2003.
UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib said he was surprised at the decision, but added that it was Mahathir's right to do so.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200805191321.htm
Sunday, May 18, 2008
"My passport was revoked" -- Waytha
My passport was revoked, insists Hindraf leader
2008/05/19
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Waytha Moorthy is still claiming that his Malaysian passport has been revoked despite the government stating otherwise. He also claimed Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar's statement that it was a "misunderstanding" and that Waytha Moorthy's passport had expired was meant to mislead the public.
In a press statement yesterday, Waytha Moorthy said his passport was valid till 2010.
"I am holding a Malaysian passport which is valid until 2010. But the fact remains that the Malaysian government has revoked my passport," he said.
The "misunderstanding" followed a report on Saturday quoting Amnesty International's Washington-based Asia-Pacific advocacy director T. Kumar, who said Waytha Moorthy had to put off talks with leaders of the Congress and Amnesty in Washington because his passport had been cancelled.
Waytha Moorthy was only aware his passport was revoked when he returned to London from Geneva after talks recently with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"The British Immigration authorities at Gatwick Airport (on April 21) told me my passport was cancelled," said Watha Moorthy, who has been living in the United Kingdom since December.
He said he was given leave to enter and remain in the United Kingdom for six months on April 2 upon his return from India.
"It is a known fact that no country would admit a person into its territory without a six-month validity period on the passport. For that matter, Switzerland would not have admitted me into their country on April 17. Nor would any airline allow me to board the flight without the six-month validity period," he said.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2244254/Article/index_html
2008/05/19
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Waytha Moorthy is still claiming that his Malaysian passport has been revoked despite the government stating otherwise. He also claimed Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar's statement that it was a "misunderstanding" and that Waytha Moorthy's passport had expired was meant to mislead the public.
In a press statement yesterday, Waytha Moorthy said his passport was valid till 2010.
"I am holding a Malaysian passport which is valid until 2010. But the fact remains that the Malaysian government has revoked my passport," he said.
The "misunderstanding" followed a report on Saturday quoting Amnesty International's Washington-based Asia-Pacific advocacy director T. Kumar, who said Waytha Moorthy had to put off talks with leaders of the Congress and Amnesty in Washington because his passport had been cancelled.
Waytha Moorthy was only aware his passport was revoked when he returned to London from Geneva after talks recently with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"The British Immigration authorities at Gatwick Airport (on April 21) told me my passport was cancelled," said Watha Moorthy, who has been living in the United Kingdom since December.
He said he was given leave to enter and remain in the United Kingdom for six months on April 2 upon his return from India.
"It is a known fact that no country would admit a person into its territory without a six-month validity period on the passport. For that matter, Switzerland would not have admitted me into their country on April 17. Nor would any airline allow me to board the flight without the six-month validity period," he said.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2244254/Article/index_html
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Malaysia says it hasn't revoked Waytha's passport
Malaysia says it hasn't revoked Hindraf leader's passport
PTI May 17, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian government has rejected "claims" by a leading global human rights group that it has revoked the passport of an ethnic Indian leader, who has been living in London on self-imposed exile.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said there was no truth in claims made by the Amnesty International that the passport of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) Chairman P Wayathamoorthy has been revoked.
Hindraf had spearheaded protests by ethnic Indians against the community's alleged marginalisation. Five of its members had been detained for holding an "illegal" rally.
Notwithstanding the minister's remarks, Wayathamoorthy's wife Eashwari also claimed that that her husband's travel document has been revoked.
"When he flew to London from Geneva, the immigration authorities there told him that Malaysia had revoked his passport. He was held at Heathrow airport and allowed to enter temporarily," she said.
Syed Hamid, however, said he was surprised by the Amnesty report. "... as far as I am concerned, the Government has not ordered for his passport to be revoked. If he wants to return to Malaysia, he can do so," he told 'The Star' daily.
He said the government would not revoke the passport of any of its national unless the person relinquishes his citizenship and when this occurs, all documents to prove his Malaysian citizenship must be surrendered.
He said the "misunderstanding" occurred probably because Waythamoorthy's passport had expired and that he could have his passport renewed at the Malaysian mission in London.
Eashwari said she was "happy with Syed Hamid's statement as it can be grounds for her husband to renew his passport in London," adding that at the moment he was not able to travel anywhere.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1164877
PTI May 17, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian government has rejected "claims" by a leading global human rights group that it has revoked the passport of an ethnic Indian leader, who has been living in London on self-imposed exile.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said there was no truth in claims made by the Amnesty International that the passport of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) Chairman P Wayathamoorthy has been revoked.
Hindraf had spearheaded protests by ethnic Indians against the community's alleged marginalisation. Five of its members had been detained for holding an "illegal" rally.
Notwithstanding the minister's remarks, Wayathamoorthy's wife Eashwari also claimed that that her husband's travel document has been revoked.
"When he flew to London from Geneva, the immigration authorities there told him that Malaysia had revoked his passport. He was held at Heathrow airport and allowed to enter temporarily," she said.
Syed Hamid, however, said he was surprised by the Amnesty report. "... as far as I am concerned, the Government has not ordered for his passport to be revoked. If he wants to return to Malaysia, he can do so," he told 'The Star' daily.
He said the government would not revoke the passport of any of its national unless the person relinquishes his citizenship and when this occurs, all documents to prove his Malaysian citizenship must be surrendered.
He said the "misunderstanding" occurred probably because Waythamoorthy's passport had expired and that he could have his passport renewed at the Malaysian mission in London.
Eashwari said she was "happy with Syed Hamid's statement as it can be grounds for her husband to renew his passport in London," adding that at the moment he was not able to travel anywhere.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1164877
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