PM not happy with Hindraf's visit

Source TheSTar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hindraf supporters who turned up at the Hari Raya open house at Putra World Trade Centre last week did not extend festive greetings to the hosts, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said they were only interested in calling for the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the release of the group’s five members held under the Act.

Abdullah said he was gracious enough to allow them in as he thought they wanted to wish him and the other ministers but was disappointed that their intention was not so.

At the open house last Wednesday, more than a hundred Hindraf supporters turned up while another group came in support of detained blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Relating the incident to reporters, he said the police and security personnel who initially denied the Hindraf group access, sought clearance from him.

“I discussed it with (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the other ministers. In that spirit I told the security team to allow them in.

“They came in and there was a lot of noise, I don’t know why,” said Abdullah, who was at the time welcoming visitors to the open house with his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Najib and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

“I heard very clearly ‘Hapuskan ISA, Lepaskan Hindraf’ (Repeal the ISA, Release the Hindraf detainees),” he said, adding that he did not know if another group of 70 people who arrived later had wished anyone as he had left for prayers by then.

Meanwhile, Hindraf filed reports against Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Utusan Malaysia at various police stations nationwide for issuing and printing seditious statements about the movement.

Its national coordinator R.S. Tha-nenthiran said they were unhappy with the minister’s comments and the Malay daily’s biased reporting which painted the movement in a negative light.

Syed Hamid Albar was reported in Utusan Malaysia as saying that Hindraf’s action was a form of provocation and intimidation.