ISA detainee and Hindraf adviser P Uthayakumar has suffered a mild heart attack .....

ALIRAN MEDIA STATEMENT

SHOW YOUR HUMANITY, MR PM

It has been brought to Aliran's attention that ISA detainee and
Hindraf adviser P Uthayakumar has suffered a mild heart attack while
under detention in Kamunting.

We are further informed that Uthayakumar underwent an ECG test last
Monday at the Taiping Hospital and was told that it was necessary for
him to be referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for further
tests.

We understand that there was no follow-up to this recommendation and
that Uthayakumar had been sent back to Kamunting without any
indication whether he would be allowed further treatment at IJN.

What is disturbing is the fact that the anxious family's appeals to
the Prime Minister's office and to the Home Minister that he be sent
to IJN for treatment have been totally ignored. There was not even the
courtesy of a reply.

In matters concerning heart disease, things can easily go wrong and
can take a turn for the worse suddenly and unexpectedly. As a human
being, Uthayakumar should not be put to this unnecessary risk
especially when IJN is so far away from Taiping if something were to
happen to his heart in the middle of the night.

Aliran, on behalf of civil society, would like to appeal to the Prime
Minister to show that there is compassion and humanity in his
administration and act in a humane manner by instructing that
Uthayakumar be referred to IJN.

P Ramakrishnan
President
11 May 2008