PAS says protest at PM's open house 'was part and parcel of democracy'.

It is very positive that PAS President has come out in support of the protest actions at the Prime Minister's open house... for this will definitely kill attempts by any quarter to make this a 'religious issue'...

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Pas chief said the action by the the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) at the prime minister's and cabinet's Hari Raya open house on Wednesday was part and parcel of democracy.

Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said it signalled a change in the democratic practices in the country that should be viewed positively.

"I don't think it was rude. That's democracy. In the United States, people demonstrate in front of the White House. It's not like they caused a commotion or started fighting," he said after the party's Hari Raya gathering at the Tarbiyyah headquarters yesterday.

In the incident on the first day of Hari Raya, Hindraf supporters went to the open house at the Putra World Trade Centre and presented a card to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asking him to release the organisation's leaders detained under the Internal Security Act.

The card was delivered by Vwaishnnavi, the 5-year-old daughter of Hindraf leader in exile, P. Waythamoorthy. The group was led by Waythamoorthy's wife, K. Shanti.
About 20 bloggers also turned up at the open house, wearing T-shirts bearing the slogans "No to ISA" and "Free RPK", referring to the two-year detention order on Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

Both groups told journalists their sole intention was to send a message to Abdullah. - New Straits Times, 5/10/2008 - Hadi: Hindraf action a democratic right

At the same time, it is good to see how MIC has been trying to exploit the situation and score points with Malaysian Indians..

Let it not be forgotten, that it is primarily the failure of MIC, the self-proclaimed representative and champion of Malaysian Indians that has led to the rise of HINDRAF - not an organisation but a movement of people.

Temples were being demolished - the MIC stood by silently...Deaths in Custody - not a whimper from MIC...Plantation workers evicted as plantation closes without homes - MIC was silent again..

Even now, MIC President has called for the release of HINDRAF 5 - and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the BN government just ignored MIC. The calls have been made several times already..

So, really what is the MIC way of doing things ....BEG...BEG...BEG and pretend that you still matter. UMNO and BN have totally ignored MIC calls for the release of the HINDRAF 5...

Both the MIC and Hindraf are fighting to get five of the group’s leaders freed from Internal Security Act (ISA) detention but they are using different approaches.

MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the party did not believe in methods adopted by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) such as crowding the Hari Raya open house hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Muslim Cabinet ministers at the Putra World Trade Centre.

“This sort of behaviour does not serve well for a united, multiracial nation. It also does not reflect the true nature of our Indian culture,” he said.

Hindraf supporters had gone to the open house to present a teddy bear and card to Abdullah asking for the release of their leaders M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar.

Dr Subramaniam said the group had created an uncomfortable feeling at the open house. - Star, 5/10/2008 -MIC on Hindraf: We want same things, our methods differ

Well, for your information - "uncomfortable" is good. That is sometimes the only way that the Malaysian government finally will release the HINDRAF 5, RPK and others detained under the ISA and Detention Without Trial..

The people have spoken about how they felt about the arrests of HINDRAF 5 and others under Detention Without Trial laws in the last General Elections - but still PM and BN government are not budging.

There must be more and more creative activities in the campaign to release all being detained under Detention Without Trial Laws - and this campaign must not just be confined to Malaysia but must be global. Already, the Asian Human Rights Commission have comnmenced yet another Urgent Appeal for the release of all detained and for the repeal of those bad laws...

And what does MIC want to do....

Dr Subramaniam said the MIC would continue to talk to Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Cabinet ministers to lobby for the release of the five.

He said the MIC pursued the matter on humanitarian grounds and because of pleas made to the party by the families of the detainees.

How many times have the MIC called for the release of HINDRAF 5 - The MIC have really got to wake up and question whether they should even continue to stay in the Barisan - when even its President's public call receives no response from the PM or the DPM..Remember GERAKAN, MCA...have also called for the release of the HINDRAF 5...