Second plea filed for Hindraf leaders' release in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, May 31 : DAP (Democratic Action Party) chairman and veteran lawyer Karpal Singh has filed a fresh application before a High Court in Malaysia for the release of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.

He said that Malaysian King Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decision to extend their detention under the Internal Security Act was "procedurally fatally flawed".

"I am not challenging the King personally. I'm challenging his decision which was based on the recommendations of the Advisory Board," the News Straits Times quoted Singh as telling reporters after filing the fresh plea.

In the joint affidavit, Karpal submitted that the King's decision on March 26 was null and void as the Board did not have the trappings of a judicial enquiry required by law as it only heard evidence from the five detainees but neither cross-examined them nor called the investigating officer to give evidence.

The Board had rejected Karpal's earlier application to call the investigating officer to give evidence. It also refused to supply the notes of proceedings.

The five Hindraf leaders detained are lawyers R. Kengadharan, 41, M. Manoharan, 47, V. Ganabatirau, 35, P. Uthayakumar, 47, and Hindraf co-ordinator K. Vasantha Kumar, 35.

ANI