Press statement for the immediate release of Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj

The Malaysian Insider
Jul 17, 2011

17 JULY — We, the undersigned doctors, including members of the Malaysian Medical Association (Perak Branch), and/or the Perak Medical Practitioners Society

1. are very concerned and troubled over the prolonged ‘illegal’ detention of our colleague Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj.

2. are concerned for Dr Jeyakumar’s health, which seems to be deteriorating under detention.

3. are deeply saddened, hurt and disillusioned by the action of the Judiciary (which is supposed to be to be independent) which on 13/07/2011 delayed the hearing date of habeas corpus application of Dr Jeyakumar and five others by a month.

We urge the immediate release of our colleague, who is also the Member of Parliament Sungai Siput, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj.

Dr Jeyakumar and five other Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) members were ‘illegally’ detained under the Emergency Ordinance recently. They have been placed in a cruel and unjust situation. They were first accused of waging war against the King and now of being a threat to national security, allegedly trying to revive communist ideology. They are subjected to interrogation and solitary confinement, denied proper visitation rights with their lawyers and close family members. This is of course unacceptable in a civil and democratic society.

We say that the detention is ‘illegal’ because till today, there is no solid and substantiated basis for the continued detention of Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj and five of his PSM colleagues.

We scarcely need reminding that Article 5 (1) of our Federal Constitution says no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with the law.

Malaysia sits on the Human Rights Council. The Malaysian government must do justice to its position on this council by according and recognising the human rights of Dr. Jeyakumar and his team who are under ‘illegal’ detention. The least that the Malaysian government can do is to live up to the ideals of Human Rights Council ─ and not violate the very rights that the government has been charged to defend steadfastly.

In view of this obligation, it will be totally unjustified to continue the ‘illegal’ detention of Dr Jeyakumar and his team without giving them a fair trial in court. The Government should do justice to its position on this Council and convince Malaysians that there is no malice on their part. Denying Dr Jeyakumar and his team the right to defend themselves is denying them justice.

Therefore, we urge the Government, especially the home minister, to release Dr. Jeyakumar and his team immediately.

It is pertinent to emphasise that we are strictly apolitical and are acting as colleagues of Dr Jeayakumar, who is also an active and much respected member of the MMA, whose family is much respected for the outstanding social work it does. Dr Jeyakumar family has contributed enormously towards the development of the healthcare services in our country.

The Government has rightly spoken much about transformation and change, and this is something every loyal citizen endorses. But what appear to be the deployment of Cold War tactics by resurrecting the “communist” and “foreign” bogeyman on political rivals in these days only serves to dissuade the public that the government is earnest in its efforts to bring about civil changes that would be in line with first world societies.

Those who know Dr Jeyakumar personally will readily vouch for his integrity, his passion for the poor and his principled, patient and peaceful approach. He is neither a communist nor a violent man who could be a serious threat to the country. For the record, Dr Jeyakumar is a highly dedicated physician who has had excellent service record while he was working in the Ministry of Health and a tireless social advocate and activist who has worked throughout his life to help and protect the rights of the poor, the marginalised and the forgotten communities in the society. All those who know Dr. Jeyakumar speak highly of his work and commitment to the people. How could someone with such immaculate professional standing and exemplary be an enemy to the country! The home minister must make every effort to secure the immediate release of Dr Jeyakumar and do justice to both his ministerial duties and to Dr Jeyakumar.

Undersigned,

1. Dr N Prasad Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
2. Dr Sharifah Halimah Jaafar Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
3. Dr Ko Chung Sen Consultant CardioThoracic Surgeon
4. Dr T. Vesvanathan Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
5. Dr Loh Choong Sing Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
6. Dr Wong Choon Heng Consultant Gastroenterologist
7. Dr Foo Chang Ling Consultant Surgeon
8. Dr Goh Guan Chai Consultant Surgeon
9. Dr Goh Phaik Kee Consultant Anaesthetist
10. Dr Lee Mun Toong Consultant Ophthalmologist
11. Dr Leong Chin Leng Consultant Otho Surgeon
12. Dr Ting Cheh Sing Consultant General Surgeon
13. Dr Chin Yow Wen Respiratory Physician
14. Dr Dev Teo Chin Nee Consultant Geriatrician
15. Dr Usha Devi Balaguru Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
16. Dr Chakr Sri Na Nagara Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
17. Dr Teoh Soong Kee Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
18. Dr Jasmine Lau Consultant Paediatrician
19. Dr Adeline Tan Ai Leen Consultant Paediatrician
20. Dr David Manickam Consultant Paediatrician
21. Dr Giritharan Consultant Physician
22. Dr Yeoh Thiam Long Consultant Physician
23. Dr Hasral bin Mohd Hasni Consultant Cardiologist
24. Dr Liew San Foi Consultant Paediatrician
25. Dr Go Kuan Weng Consultant Nephrologist
26. Dr Divakaran TG Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
27. Dr Lam Fook Shin Consultant Eye Surgeon
28. Dr Lee Boon Chye Consultant Cardiologist
29. Dr Meor Ahmad Consultant Radiologist
30. Dr Ong Teong Onn Consultant Radiologist
31. Dr Mahendra Mano Consultant Surgeon
32. Dr A. Naidu Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
33. Datuk Dr S Jenagaratnam Consultant Anaesthetist
34. Dr Lu Luan Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
35. Dr Fauziah Khairudin Consultant Nephrologist
36. Dr Susan King Consultant Paediatrician
37. Dr Lee Kim Seng Consultant Paediatrician
38. Dr Ranjoth Singh Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
39. Dr Yap Foo Ngan Consultant Family Physician
40. Dr Esther Gunaserali Consultant Psychiatrist
41. Dr Chan Chee Hoe Consultant Physician
42. Dr P. Moganarajoo Consultant O & G
43. Datuk (Dr ) K.S Sivananthan Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
44. Dr Yeap Yean Lian Consultant Surgeon
45. Dr William Tan Kah Wee Consultant Physician
46. Dr Wong Chong Yuan Consultant Physician
47. Dr Yeat Siew Eng Consultant ENT Surgeon
48. Dr Choong Choon Hooi Consultant Physician & Cardiologist
49. Dr Chong Swee Woon Consultant Psychiatrist
50. Dr Koh Wai Keat Consultant Geriatrician
51. Dr Surinderjit Singh Gill Consultant Ophthalmologist
52. Dr Kumar Thiyagarajah Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
53. Dr Raveendran Kandiah Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
54. Dr Minseh Kimin Consultant Radiologist
55. Dr Ishak Abu Bakar Consultant Radiologist
56. Dr Ng Yew Sang Consultant Nephrologist
57. Dr Tan Huat Chai Consultant Cardiologist
58. Dr Mok Chung Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
59. Dr Shaidan Sulaiman Consultant Anaesthetist
60. Dr Hj Ahmad Adlan Nuruddin Consultant O & G
61. Dr Sumathi Anandaraj Senior Medical Officer
62. Dr Ooi Tian Su Consultant O&G
63. Dr Yeak Siew Tin Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
64. Dr Loo Kok Lim Consultant Rheumatologist
65. Dr Ruslan Razak Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
66. Dr Philip Ho Consultant Cardiologist
67. Dr Leow Aik Ming Consultant Plastic Surgeon
68. Dr Katheleen Yap Consultant Neurologist
69. Dr Kevin Joseph Consultant Cardiologist
70. D Sumithra Consultant Surgeon
71. Dr Inderjit Singh Consultant Cardiologist
72. Dr Uma Karthigasu Consultant Radiologist
73. Dr Jevan Gunaselan Senior Medical Officer
74. Datuk Dr SK Rathi Consultant Dermatologist
75. Dr Koh Chan Sing Consultant Cardiologist
76. Dr Aznan Radiologist
77. Datuk Dr Andrew Chua Seng Boon Consultant Gastroenterologist
78. Dr Michael Joseph Consultant Cardiologist
79. Dr Teh Hiok Seng Consultant Haematologist
80. Dr Lee Boon Ping Consultant General Surgeon
81. Dr Lee Haik Teong Consultant Paediatrician
82. Dr Kuldeep Singh Consultant Paediatrician
83. Dr Jeyabalan Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
84. Dr Cheong Soo Tow Consultant Paediatrician
85. Dr Lim Wee Yoong Consultant Paediatrician
86. Dr Suppramaniam Consultant Ortho-Surgeon
87. Dr Harvinder Singh Consultant ENT
88. Dr Loo Chin Sum Consultant Nephrologist
89. Dr Thomas Haris Consultant Anaesthetist
90. Dr Ng Seng Lew Consultant General Surgeon
91. Dr Anandaraj Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
92. Dr N. Jeevaraj Consultant General Surgeon
93. Dr V. Mannimanan Consultant Urologist
94. Dr Loke Yee Peng Consultant Anaesthetist
95. Dr Vinod Kumar Senior Medical Officer
96. Dr Azhar Senior Medical Officer
97. Dr Lam Kuan Kin General Practioner
98. Dr Tan Kim Khian General Practioner
99. Dr Lim Boon Pin General Practioner
100. Dr Lian Chin Chew General Practioner
101. Dr Chan Yee Ming General Practioner
102. Dr Kok Yuan Sing General Practioner
103. Dr Chee See Choke General Practioner
104. Dr Soo Kam Chiew General Practioner
105. Dr Abdul Malik General Practioner
106. Dr Leong Poh Nam General Practioner
107. Dr Lau Sau Khuen General Practioner
109. Dr Chin Kit Kong General Practioner
110. Dr Doong Hock Yuen General Practioner
111. Dr Khairuddin General Practioner
112. Dr Lee Nik Hooi General Practioner
113. Dr Cheah Saw Imm General Practioner
114. Dr Kamalanathan General Practioner
115. DR Arunash General Practioner
116. Dr Kwok Hou Phin General Practioner
117. Dr Rita Leow General Practioner
118. Dr Paizah Ramli General Practioner
119. Dr Uma Devi Arunasalam General Practioner
120. Datuk Dr Sarjeet Singh Sidhu Ob Gyn Specialist
121. Datuk Dr Subramaniam Consultant Plastic Surgeon
122. Dr Lai Thian Seong GP
123. Dr Chew Teik Chye GP
124. Dr Lim Tee Jin GP
125. Dr Teoh Lee Yong GP
126. Dr Ho Kok Hin GP
127. Dr Hoo Thoun Ting GP
128. Dr P. Raghavan GP
129. Prof. Dr Jackie Ho Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist
130. Dr Seet Chee Lin GP
131. Dr Kek Kim Huat GP
132. Dr P F Gill GP
133. Dr T. M. Ong GP
134. Dr C W Ong GP
135. Dr Nagara GP
136. Dr S Subramaniam GP
137. Dr Chew Keat Eng GP
138. Dr Ting Seo Leong GP & President, Perak Medical Practitioners’ Society
139. Dr Ling Hee Huong GP
140. Dr Lee See Chee GP
141. Dr Diong Ko Ing GP
142. Dr Ling Yok King GP
143. Dr V.Gurunathan GP
144. Dr Ching Lee Kee GP
145. Dr Suresh Sammanathamurthy Orthopaedic Surgeon
146. Dr Gurdep Singh GP
147. Dr Teoh S K GP
148. Dr Harbaskg Singh GP
149. Dr Suppaiyah GP
150. Dr Wong Ai Fook GP
151. Dr S Y Chan GP
152. Dr Bhajan Singh GP
153. Dr Ramesh GP
154. Dr Yek Sing Chee GP
155. Dr K. Skanthadevan GP
156. Dr Nasri GP
157. Dr Yusof GP
158. Datuk Dr Gurdeep Prakash Singh Consultant Physician
159. Datuk Dr. Gunasegaran Consultant Plastic Surgeon
160. Dr Jaspal Kaur Malhi GP
161. Datuk Dr Sharil Che Mat GP
162. Dr Rajeswaran Paramjothy GP
163. Dr Chan Kai Soon Consultant Pathology
164. Dr Harry Louise D’Cruz GP
165. Datuk Dr Palanicawnder GP
166. Dr George Thavarajah GP
167. Datuk Dr Aris Chandran Consultant Physician
168. Dr Tan Ooi Hong Consultant Physician
169. Dr Tan Boon Chye GP
170. Datuk Dr Ranjoth Singh Consultant O & G
171. Dr Rahmantulnisha GP
172. Dr Hu Wen Shing Consultant Radiologist
173. Dr K Muruhadas GP
174. Dr Thomas Arul GP
175. Dr Ong Chew Wui GP
176. Dr Ong Tee Meng GP