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Samy Vellu should cut short his India trip to get Hindraf 5 released from ISA since there is no evidence of their terrorist links

MIC President and Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu should cut short his current India trip and rush back to the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to uphold justice for the Hindraf Five wrongly detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since he has admitted to the Indian media that there is no evidence about Hindraf’s terrorist links.

Samy Vellu had told the Indian media in Chennai that the Malaysian government did not have any evidence that Hindraf had connection with Tamil Tigers or terrorists. He was responding to questions from reporters in Chennai.

This is the Q & A on the NDTVG.com where Samy Vellu admitted that there is no evidence that Hindraf has terrorist links:

NDTV: Do you have any evidence to back your government’s charge that the Hindraf has links with terrorists?

D S Vellu: Hindraf said they would fight like the Tigers, the way the Tigers are fighting in Sri Lanka. It was by Vedamurthy. After he talked like that, we did an investigation and it was felt that he may have gone there for training.

NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?

D S Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.

It was because of the alleged Hindraf’s terrorist links that the Hindraf Five, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan and T. Vasantha Kumar were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan had told Malaysians immediately after their ISA arrests on 14th December 2007 that the detention of the Hindraf Five was “imperative” because “they clearly have links with international terrorist organizations”. (NST 15.12.07)

As the whole case for the invocation of the infamous ISA to detain the Hindraf leaders was their international terrorist links, which has now collapsed totally with the admission by Samy Vellu in India, the Hindraf Five, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan and T. Vasantha Kumar should be released immediately and unconditionally from ISA detention in Kamunting detention centre.

Samy Vellu cannot do any good in India, with him being snubbed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi despite waiting for an appointment for three days in Chennai “to clarify his government’s stand on the Malaysian Tamils issue”.

Samy Vellu had been a party to the great wrong perpetrated on the Hindraf Five in their ISA detention and the least he should do is to rush back to the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to ensure that justice is done to the five with their immediate and unconditional release without a single moment’s delay.

The other reason which Musa had mentioned to justify their detention was that they were “involved in activities that amount to inciting racial hatred” does not bear scrutiny.

This is because these charges come under the Sedition Act and the Hindraf leaders should be charged in court so that they could exercise their constitutional right to defend themselves in an open trial in accordance with the Constitutional guarantee and Rukunegara principle on the rule of law in Malaysia.

58 Replies to “Samy Vellu should cut short his India trip to get Hindraf 5 released from ISA since there is no evidence of their terrorist links”

  1. wah, he finally wake-up after kena rejected by Tamil Nadu CM and India PM… maybe he learn his Tamil lesson during his trip to Tamil Nadu… and he understand and converse better Tamil after this… :-)

  3. Sami Velooooo MUST follow Dr. Chua Soi Lek’s footstep,
    resigns and give up all his posts in MIC.

    Be a gentleman and people will still respect you rather
    than be a mouse and everyone is shouting aloud to
    smack that Idiot..!

    Sami, which one you prefer? The choice is yours…!!

  4. In Asia prominent political leaders lost their seats. Recently in Australia the oppositon won the election.

    We need the same to happen in Malaysia. Sami Vellu is too long. Can’t lead the Indian community. So don’t vote for him. Get him out.

    Malaysians must change the BN-led government to gain BACK the benefits which was hijacked for 50 years.

    VOTE FOR THE OPPOSITON (DAP/PKR/PAS)
    AND DENY
    2/3 MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT.

  5. he still wondering why last time Tamil Nadu CM came to M’sia, he treat him with good roti canai… and now he go to him, the CM show him the door…

    if Samy Vellu have a “stick” he should resign 28 years ago…
    now not too late for him to admit his mistakes and lies to Malaysia Indian community…

  8. Aiyoyo Sami Samy,

    People say you are linked to Corruption and the
    Corruption is linked to Cronyism and Nepotism…

    So have guts to resign and admit that flaws you have
    committed. Look to Dr. Chua Soi Lek and quit all your
    posts in MIC and Works Minister…!!!

  11. The whole world is laughing at our nation with a gomen that will deep so low to bully its own citizens. If it can do that to its own people what can they not do to foreign investors. All these bullying actions will only frighten away foreign investors. The gomen have themselves to blame!!!!!

  13. My take is that we should not push him over the cliff !
    Let him stands in sg.siput again and see that he lose
    in his ” fortress ” and he will be history to M’sian soon.

    He thinks he is invincible and usually talks with such
    arrogance in thinking that they are none more capable
    than himself as Indian’s representative in Parliament.

    Let’s not forget to pray for the big 5 in kamunting, God
    will grants them patience and will uphold their families
    in such a time of despair. Pray for justice too !

  16. Samy has been booed for a couple of times. But his face is pretty thick. Or should i say all BN politicians’ faces are thick? Chua Soi Lek seemed to have a thinner one, similar to common human like you and me. So that makes BN politicians beasts :)

  17. Uncle Lim
    I an ordinary citizen, feel very sad on on the terrorist link charges brought by the Govt on the 5 Hindraff as the government (Samy) has said that there is no link to the Tamil Tigers!

    Please bring those who propose such an amazingly stupid idea to justice, for they have acted in bad faith!

    Looking forward.

  19. I still don’t understand why a sovereign state must send its emissary to another sovereign state to try and explain why it does what it does! Don’t both understand the concept of sovereignty??

    Has UMNO given Samy Vellu the mandate to salvage its tattered reputation among Indians – and a rope long enough for him to hang himself?

    Please demand that Samy Vellu return to Malaysia immediately, and stop embarrassing the country – and made to attend compulsory lectures in constitutional history, international relations 101. Obviously he thought it would be a good start to begin his campaign for the GE at ground zero even though that ground zero is in another country. Doesn’t he know that Indian nationals cannot vote in the GE? Or is he implying that Malaysian Indians owe their loyalty to a foreign government?

  20. The Interview:

    NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?

    D S Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.

    You can arrest anybody for committing a crime simply because you have a suspicion? That’s new! I thought a policeman could only arrest someone if he has reasonable suspicion of a commission of a crime!

    Why is Samy Vellu re-writing our law? Why is Samy Vellu usurping the function of the legislature?

  21. Regrettably the ISA was applied against the Hindraf 5 based on belief & suspicion and & not the truth. As a matter of fact Mr Uthayakumar was laughing at the allegations and he had declared:
    ‘We have got zero links with terrorism. We have got zero links with LTTE. We do not support violence. We are a non violent group”
    As a matter of fact he had made a symbolic police report ( 9 Dec 07) against the PM, the IGP and AG and as expected “no action” was taken.
    For more details
    Go H E R E

  22. “Regrettably the ISA was applied against the Hindraf 5 based on belief & suspicion and & not the truth. ” mwt

    Arrests are made based on reasonable suspicion. The truth? That is why we have trials i.e. to get to the truth.

  23. So pity this Samy..nowhere to get support!
    His own country’s tamils have disowned him.
    Tamil nadu tamils too have ignored him.
    Only supporters are his own small tail wagging group.
    The irony is, Mr Samy thinks 10 or 20 so people surrounding him represent the whole 2.5 million tamils of Malaysia.
    The ‘seat’ is pushing him away; the ‘graveyard’ is beckoning him!
    Good bye dear Samy. This is not my courtesiest bye bye wish for Samy afterall!

  26. This comes as no surprise. As a voter, I would immediately regard BN government has lacking in morality, and on that ground alone I will vote it out of power. The question is, how many Malaysians are aware of this piece of information and how is the opposition spreading this message?

  28. Arrests are made based on reasonable suspicion. The truth? That is why we have trials i.e. to get to the truth. darkhorse

    Owah got trial under ISA. Did we have a new ISA here in Malaysia already?
    I remember not long ago, someone (I think it was Colonel) said why bother, the New Delhi Government has already distanced itself from Hindraf. But now what are we talking here, Samy trying to suck up with India?

  29. You can arrest anybody for committing a crime simply because you have a suspicion? That’s new! I thought a policeman could only arrest someone if he has reasonable suspicion of a commission of a crime! darkhorse

    How reasonable is reasonable suspicion, do you know? A normal person under normal circumstances or IGP under duress? Samy is not the only one here rewriting the law. We have many here.

  30. Hi Uncle

    Please inform or call Dato Sri Samy back to Malaysia because he cannot sell his medicine to India Ministers because most of the Ministers knows the truth what is happening in Malaysia.They are not stupid like the UMNO ministers.

  31. Hi

    It looks like now Police Raja dimalaysia busy with arresting Hindraf / PKR /DAP people. What happen other cases like Nurin all cases close chapter. Most of the public still not educated or civilized. If educated or civilized time to chage the Goverment and aboilsh and one of them ISA because ISA is for their own purpose. HIGH PROFILE CASES ALL CLOSED. I do not know why the public still want this GOVERMENT

  34. “How reasonable is reasonable suspicion, do you know? ”

    It is clear that the object of your inquiry is to ridicule rather than to seek answers. So let me respond to your comment for the last time. Henceforth it is the “ignore button” for you.

    What is reasonable is for the judge to determine under the circumstances of each case.

  36. Samy Velu, as a Minsiter in the Cabinet, has admitted publlicalyy that there is no evidence of any terrorist links. This alleged link was the subtantive reason for HINDRAF leaders detention. In any other civilsed democratic nation those responsible would be compelled to apologise and realease the detainees. I dont see this happening in Malaysia which makes the country that deserves nomore international respect.

    We now have to call on the foriegn invetsors to think twice before entering Malaysia on joint ventures.

  37. What is reasonable is for the judge to determine under the circumstances of each case. darkhorse

    To you every damn thing is for the Judge to decide, never mind that the whole judiciary is perverted. By the way, the judges don’t do the arrest even if they get to decide later. The policeman did and so you get arrested first, never mind the suscipion is reasonable or otherwise, got it?

  38. Talking always cheap by BN MPs as they just say out things of thoughts with a serious intention to cover up everything. In Malaysia, these BN MPs are immune from any action even there is prove. With this, can you imagine how will they behave went going abroad for official duties …

  39. What is reasonable is for the judge to determine under the circumstances of each case. -darkhorse

    Haha. The way the law is, maybe if the judge don`t behave like the AG/IGP want, the judge will get investigated. That will teach all the other judges. Malaysians should be proud of how they destroy their own country.

  40. Poor Hindraf detainees. But rest assured that your struggle is not in vain. I can see the printed media featuring more of Indians. Yoyo is also more respectful of temple. Similarly the PM and ministers are more careful when dealing with Indians.

    YES! ALL CREDITS TO HIDERAF AND NOT MIC.
    SAMY Vellu, you are obsolete already. Time to go CHUA Soi Lek’s way!

  42. M’sian religious leaders protest over priest visa cuts

    Tue, Jan 08, 2008
    AFP

    KUALA LUMPUR – NON-MUSLIM religious groups said on Tuesday that Malaysia is refusing to issue new visas for foreign priests, in the latest eruption of ethnic discord in the multicultural nation.

    Foreign priests already in the country have only been given six-month renewals and told they must leave after expiry, said the head of the Malaysian Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

    Indian community affected
    The council’s president A. Vaithilingam said the restrictions mostly affected ethnic Indian Hindus, who have been at the centre of a discrimination row, and that there would now not be enough priests to conduct prayers.

    ‘We want an explanation from the prime minister and the government on this,’ Mr Vaithilingam told reporters.

    ‘Why are they carrying out the sudden action to restrict foreign priests from practicing in the country when there are millions of foreign workers who are allowed to work here,’ he said.

    Mr Vaithilingam, who is also president of the leading Hindu organisation the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, said that about 200 Hindu priests were the majority of foreign clergy here, but that there are also some Buddhists and Taoists.

    He said visas for temple musicians have also been reduced from one year to six months while temple sculptors have had their permits reduced from six months to one week.

    ‘I am shocked because normally Immigration has a talk with us before changing any policy and this has happened without any discussion,’ he said.

    Immigration department officials confirmed that the visas issued to priests were being restricted but refused to give details.

    Mr Vaithilingam said that major temples like the one at Batu Caves, on the fringes of the capital Kuala Lumpur and a major tourist attraction, would be hard hit.

    ‘These priests are important as they carry out special prayers and rituals and so it will be difficult at places like Batu Caves to have big prayers and people will not be able to pray the way they need to,’ he said. — AFP

  43. Tickler,

    When I said “What is reasonable is for the judge to determine under the circumstances of each case” I was merely stating the law as it is. Not my opinion of the law or how the Malaysian legal systems works or about the independence of our judiciary.

    The judiciary may have lost its independence but the law still has to be applied and if incorrectly applied the decision would have to be reversed. Of course, I’m sure you can come up with instances when application of the law in specific cases is so convoluted that it makes a mockery of our judiciary – but not the law. The law remains as it is.

    There is a reason why the word “reasonable” and “reasonable man” appears in tort law, for example. The reason is because you cannot legislate on the issue of what is reasonable. What is reasonable would have to depend on the circumstances surrounding each case. It is for the trial judge to determine based on the circumstances of that particular case. It is for the jury to decide if it is a jury trial. It is an issue not of law but fact.

    Now coming back to the issue of when an arrest can be effected by a police officer. A policeman can only arrest you based on reasonable suspicion of a crime having been committed by you. Why “reasonable” suspicion and not plain “suspicion” – this is to avoid the misuse of police powers. It has to be objective as well as subjective. Why both? Because you really cannot separate the two when it comes to a police officer patrolling our streets.

    The normally prosecution oriented magistrate would of course tend to side with law enforcement.

    The misuse and abuse of prosecutorial powers by the AG in a country like Malaysia represents a serious threat – which was what happened with the hindraf 31.

    Under our Internal Security Act, the danger is even more real because the government does not need to disclose the evidence they have against you. The common law burden of proof is reversed by statute i.e. you are presumed guilty until proven innocent. The government does not need to charge you within 48 hours as required otherwise, and can detain you for an initial period of two years simply by the Minister issuing his order which as you know is not subject to judicial review. The writ of habeas corpus filed by your lawyer would be the only way.

    Extralegal and exraconstitutional means would have to be employed to work for their release from detention. It is after all a human rights issue.

  44. Dark Horse: Good comment there.

    I`m reminded of the definition of `negligence` i.e. The doing of something which a reasonably prudent person would not do, or the failure to do something which a reasonably prudent person would do under like circumstances.

    And then there was Sir Thomas More in `Man For All Seasons`:

    More’s belief in the law remained steadfast even when it appeared that the law could reveal to be his downfall. More wants to find ways to hide behind the law for his safety’s sake. When discussing the Act of Supremacy, More states, “Supreme Head of the Church in England—‘so far as the law of God allows.’ How far the law of God does allow it remains a matter of opinion, since the Act doesn’t state it.”
    He expects that with his knowledge of the law, he can find a way to take the oath and still have a humble conscience. More wants nothing more than to be protected under the law which he so religiously observed on a daily basis. However, More’s plan could be seen by many as being treasonous. Norfolk makes this very assumption, and when he questions More about it, More replies by saying, “The law requires more than an assumption; the law requires a fact.”
    Again he sticks to the use of the law for his benefit. More will not change his views of the law, even when challenged by Roper. More questions Roper’s views of the law by saying, “Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you- where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country’s planted thick with laws from coast to coast- Man’s laws, not God’s – and if you cut them down- and you’re just the man to do it- d’you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake.”

  45. Lates news on BBC:
    Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid rising domestic tensions.
    What a joke! Samy Vellu said that we have enough workers so it is alright to stop recruiting more workers.
    Adei Samy, if at all any foreign wokers that need to be cut, it should be the Indons which made up million. Indian workers and Bangla is just a small fraction of Indons.

  47. “I`m reminded of the definition of `negligence` i.e. The doing of something which a reasonably prudent person would not do, or the failure to do something which a reasonably prudent person would do under like circumstances.” Tickler

    Yes, in the law of torts and negligence, you come across the “Reasonable Man” all the time. To find negligence, you have to look for “duty of care” and “breach of that duty” and then you have to face the “Reasonable Man”.

  48. Adei Samy, if at all any foreign wokers that need to be cut, it should be the Indons which made up million. Indian workers and Bangla is just a small fraction of Indons. Grace

    See, a sovereign state has lots of power. This is essentially a tit for tat strategy just to remind India that there are many Indian workers depending their livelihood on Malaysia. One just has to look at Myanmar and North Korea to take notice that abuse of power and subjugation of their own people can go on for years and there is nothing the citizens and international community can do about it. What can few righteous men do when the foundation is shaken to the core? We need to discuss what is the way out for Malaysia before the situation gets worse.

  49. Malaysia has made foe with Indonesia and India for several disputes in labor issue.

    My advice to BN government is let open the door to Chinese labors from the Communist China. Chinese communist government will never sympathize on how Chinese Malaysians are ill-treated as second class citizen.

  50. Chinese communist government will never sympathize on how Chinese Malaysians are ill-treated as second class citizen. – posted above

    The Chinese Govt. is still laughing at the way a UMNO minister went to China to apologise for the Malay lady who was made to strip in a malaysian police station.
    I don`t blame the Chinese govt for that. I too still laugh at it when it comes to mind.

  51. NEW DELHI :Malaysia on Tuesday denied reports emanating from Kuala Lumpur that it had taken a decision to put a freeze on employment of Indian workers. Malaysian works minister Samy Vellu, who is here to attend the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2008, on Tuesday denied the reports, and said there is no ban or freeze on Indian workers. Mr Vellu made a statement after talking to his Prime Minister Abdullaj Badawi.
    [ ]
    Significantly Mr Vellu just an hour before his denial said Malaysia had enough foreign workers. “The government decided it is enough, and we don’t want to recruit any more because we have enough workers… Is it wrong?,” he told a news agency when asked for a comment on the reported ban.

    The Indian government has anyway sought a clarification through it’s mission in Malaysia. Sources said India’s high commissioner in Malaysia has got in touch with the Malaysian foreign office seeking a clarification on the issue.
    http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/No_freeze_on_Indian_workers/articleshow/2684754.cms

  52. It is laughable. A day after the Indian defence minister completes his trip to Malaysia, that country announces a ban on the intake of workers from India. Existing workers will be asked to return to India after their work permits expire. The Malaysian government took this decision—it claims—in late December 2007. It probably held back the announcement to ensure A K Antony’s visit took place. Yet, the timing of the announcement—a day after India agreed to train Malaysian air force pilots, among other things—should be embarassing for Mr Antony.

    The Malaysian government took this decision—in all likelihood—as part of its clampdown on the movement among its ethnic Indian minority, who are demanding an end to systematic racial discrimination. The manner in which it treats its citizens is entirely its own business. But if Malaysia has the right to decide its own immigration policies, the ban adversely affects Indian nationals. For that reason, the Indian government must respond.

    The ban on immigrant workers has become an additional sore point in India-Malaysia economic relations, the most visible of which was Malaysia’s holding up of an India-ASEAN preferential trade agreement blaming India’s customs duties on the import of palm oil. And even if Mr Antony and his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, have announced an ‘elevation’ of defence co-operation, Kuala Lumpur has been less enthusiastic on India’s involvement in securing the Malacca straits.
    http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/2008/01/08/look-east-and-frown-at-malaysia/

  53. In the Indian history idiom, this state of affairs is called Tuglak durbar. I hope PM Badawi does not go down in history drawing a comparison with Mohammad Bin Tuglak who shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. Together with the banning of visas for non-muslim priests, Badawi is being misled by wahhabi groups into turning Malaysia into an islamist state. All ethnic communities of Malaysia, Beware ! Malaysia is no longer the pluralist, multi-ethnic society that made its citizens proud as Malaysians, a nation almost reminding one of the continent of Asia, hence the name Malaysia. PM Badawi will do well to release the Hindraf 5 and start a national reconciliation dialogue. That will get him a place in history; else, he will not even become a footnote in Malaysian history. The choice is his.

  54. The Malaysian Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism said foreign priests already in the country have only been given six-month renewals and told they must leave after expiry.

    Foreign priests already in the country have only been given six-month renewals and told they must leave after expiry, said the council’s president A Vaithilingam.

    Seeking PM’s explanation

    Vaithilingam said the restrictions mostly affected ethnic Indian Hindus, who have been at the centre of a discrimination row, and that there would now not be enough priests to conduct prayers.

    “We want an explanation from the prime minister and the government on this,” Vaithilingam told AFP.

    “Why are they carrying out the sudden action to restrict foreign priests from practicing in the country when there are millions of foreign workers who are allowed to work here,” he said.

    Vaithilingam, who is also president of the leading Hindu organisation the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, said that about 200 Hindu priests were the majority of foreign clergy here, but that there are also some Buddhists and Taoists.

    He said visas for temple musicians have also been reduced from one year to six months while temple sculptors have had their permits reduced from six months to one week.

    “I am shocked because normally Immigration has a talk with us before changing any policy and this has happened without any discussion,” he said.

    Immigration department officials confirmed that the visas issued to priests were being restricted but refused to give details.

  55. Ayyoyyo Semi Value, first you say there is no marginalisation of the Indians, and show statistics to show Indians are doing well and then you go to India to say the same thing.

    But in the same breath you say the issue is being looked into by gomen.

    haha, if its not true, then no need to look into it, and no need to visit your kampung lah.

    Dei lu balik India pun India tadak mau sama lu.

    See this is an Indian who cant even speak proper Malay, and he is a Minister…..a Clown, but still a Minister.

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