Malay Indian leader seeks release from detention on health grounds

Kuala Lumpur, May 23 : P. Uthayakumar, one of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leaders detained at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Malaysia, under the Internal Security Act (ISA), has filed an application for his release on grounds that he has been denied medical attention for his diabetic and heart problems.

Counsel N. Surendran filed the writ of habeas corpus at the High Court Registry here on Thursday on Uthayakumar's behalf, the New Strait Times reported.

Uthayakumar named the home minister and the Taiping detention camp commandant as first and second respondents respectively. This is Uthayakumar's second habeas corpus application seeking his release.

He filed his first application on December 26 last year, which was dismissed by the High Court on February 29 along with the applications of the other four. They had claimed that their detention was unlawful. The Federal Court upheld the High Court's decision on May 14.

In his affidavit supporting yesterday's application, which was affirmed by Uthayakumar himself, the 46-year-old said he had been denied his medication for diabetics between mid-February and April 6.

Prior to that, Uthayakumar was taking the medicine that was given to him by his fiancee, S. Indradevi, 36.

"I asked the prison officials for the medication prescribed by the Taiping General Hospital but they refused to give it to me. This led me to ask them to see prison director Yasuhimi Yusoff. All my six requests were never granted," he said.

He claimed the prison officials had also refused to accept the medications given to them by Surendran and another lawyer, V. Santha Devi.

Uthayakumar also claimed that he had been denied the diabetic diet he requested. Instead, he was given rice and curry which was sweet.

This, he said, had caused him to suffer high blood sugar, weakness and dizziness, high blood pressure, skin disease and the blurring of his vision.

He has also lost five kilogrammes in weight since his arrest on December 13, 2007.

Uthayakumar added that his counsel had written at least eight letters to the authorities about his illness but the reply received did not reflect the reality of the deprivation of medication and proper diabetic diet.

Uthayakumar said he asked Yasuhimi to admit him to IJN and the latter issued a letter dated May 7, stating the conditions and facilities which should be provided at the IJN. Uthayakumar said he was still waiting to be admitted into IJN and feared that the longer he waited, the more his health and life would be jeopardised.

ANI