Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraft) submitted its application for registration since October 2007, when the Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamir Albar decided to ban their movement on October 15. The reasons given by the government, the decision is a setback to freedom of expression and will only send the signal that dissent is not tolerated. Therefore, resulting Hindraf supporters organised several gathering to protest the Internal Security Act of the detention of their five leaders for two years in Kamunting. Thus, banning the movement will not be the best solution as the best way for the government is to engage the group and work towards a more open and a better solution.
The latest gathering was at 27 September and it gathered more than two thousand people as it also dedicated to the blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin. “The Right to Associate and expression is guaranteed under Article 10 of Federal Constitution, albeit with restrictions through amendments passed over the years” (Venkiteswaran, 2008). Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) believes that the issues highlighted by Hindraf were valid and actual socioeconomic and political problems that were facing by a momentous figure of people of Indians in Malaysia.
This video was reported by Aljazeera, it is the second demonstration by the Human Rights Action Force (Hindraft) for the demanding greater representation for the country’s ethnic Indian minority. They gather up to complain about the economic discrimination and political marginalization. During the protest, one of the Hindraft leader, R.S Tanethran said, “To the Prime Minister, don’t ever come to the public and said that you love everybody and care for the people, it’s a wrong. Don’t ever say he doesn’t know how to respect the Indian in Malaysia.” In the statement to Aljazeera, Malaysia Deputy Internal Security Minister said, “If they are unhappy with anything, they should use the ballot box. The elections are around the corner and they are free to vote as they wish. This is democracy.” (Youtube.com, 2008)
My Opinion!
This is one of the many reason why the Barisan Nasional’s(National Front) limited success in the March 8 elections as the government failed to react to the issues. The public will against the government if they do not pay some respect to their people.
Reference
Ethnic Indians protest in Malaysia Youtube - viewed 13 November 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk4MwT92rLE
Venkiteswaran, G 2008, ‘Another ban, Another Loss For Expression’, Centre For Independent Journalism, viewed on 9 November 2008.
http://www.cijmalaysia.org/content/view/385/8/
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