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Malaysia not to free Hindraf leaders
The Times of India - January 4, 2009
New Delhi – The Malaysian government has no immediate plans to review the detention of five Indian-origin leaders, who were arrested under a controversial law for organising an unprecedented public protest against alleged marginalisation of the ethnic Indian community.
Malaysia has kept in detention the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders since last one year under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows authorities to hold people for indefinite period without trial.
Malaysia's human resource development minister S Subramanian said the release of the Hindraf leaders will depend on the recommendation of a review board which meets once in six months.
"We have a system of reviewing the (release of) those who were arrested under the act. This is done on a periodic basis on every six months," the visiting minister said when asked about release of the detained leaders.
The review board met few months back and decided against releasing the leaders. Its next meeting is expected to take place after couple of months.
Subramanian said the board comprising neutral members meets once in six months and if it suggests releasing them, then the government will set free the detainees.
"When their findings suggest that timing is appropriate for such release to be made, then they will be released," he said without specifying timing of their release.
Hindraf, which has been spearheading agitation demanding more rights for ethnic-Indians, came into international focus after it organised an unprecedented public protest in November 2007 against alleged marginalisation of the community.
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