Hindu activist files defamation suit on Malaysia
Singapore,
Jan
4:
A
Hindu
rights
activist
who
has
been
detained
in
Malaysia
for
seeking
equal
rights
under
the
Internal
Security
Act
(ISA)
today
filed
a
libel
suit
against
the
government
for
allegedly
linking
him
to
terror
groups.
The 43 million Singapore dollar suit was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on behalf of Mr P Uthayakumar, who is being held along with four others under the ISA, which allows detention without trial, counsel M Manogar said. The suit also names police chief Musa Hassan and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail for their alleged remarks that Mr Uthayakumar was a threat to national security because of his links with terrorists, the Straits times quoted him as saying.
Demanding the allegations to be proved in the open court, the counsel asked whether the government has any evidence against the detained leader of rights group Hindraf.
The five activists were detained after they enraged the government on November 25 by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination against ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the street protest which drew 8,000 people.
The detained leaders are being held at the Kamunting detention centre in northern Perak state, some 300 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur.
UNI