Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email This are excerpts from the MK interview (full article here) with Wan Azizah:
You have listed five issues as your agenda, would you like to elaborate?
… Also, there is the issue of the ISA (Internal Security Act) detainees. We have human rights but the record is not that great comparatively. ISA has always been used against political dissidents, (Hindraf legal adviser and newly-elected Kota Alam Shah state assemblyperson) M Manoharan especially has to be freed unless you charge him in open court. What crime has he done? I also feel that the environment itself is a very big issue, we have laws but the enforcement is something else.
On ISA, you have called for the release of Manoharan and four others Hindraf leaders but there has been question on why (husband and PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim is rather quiet on that? Was that due to the whispering campaign on the ground that he was pro-Hindus or pro-Hindraf?
He has – even though I think there is no formal statement – but he has spoken about it and he always call for the ISA to be repealed and all ISA detainees to be released. It is just that through me, we have both came out with the statement. The (rival’s) election campaign before said that Anwar was pro-Hindraf, he is actually pro-Malaysians, pro-human rights. He actually said we do not agree with all what Hindraf is seeking but their basic right to speak and association, we have to give them that, as it is enshrined in our constitution.
It is quite clear what Wan Azizah is trying to imply. The alternative government (if it was in power) would have allowed HINDRAF rally (right to speak and associate), but not necessarily agree with the content/purpose of the rally. HINDRAF may have used strong words in its memorandum and speeches, but that does negate the fact that HINDRAF is about equal rights. The leaders tried to mislead the people by focusing on just few words used in memorandum, instead of addressing the core issues. I wonder which part of what Hindraf seeks Anwar does not agree with.
No mattr how much indian’s fight in this country without a population our voices would fall into deff ears, malay is always malay they would like stay in power only wether its BN or BR, they don’t care about us instead make use of the hindraf rally for they politically gain only since hindraf rally had made loudest noise then any rally take place in the country.
This is the reason why P.Uthayakumar is not interested in joining any political party, he knows politician is always politician they will use all kind tactic and way’s to gain support, he just don’t one to be victimize and turnised his reputation as a freedom fighter. Indian’s still have to learn a lot and its still not too late yet….for unite and fight for the rights.
what is the different between BN and BR now. BN have been act violently and not agree to our request. BR is doing the same but more diplomatically without violent, allowing rally but end of the day they also not agree to our request ….Get my point!!!!
it’s like fire and frying pan . In fact many Indians knew this out front . The question is whther we have choice ?? If not BN or BR …wht else we have?
So the best bet is to choose a polite demon instead of an arragont demon .
The other difference is as wht we know , MIC is a puppet hence our voice softened in BN . So need strong and blunt Indian leaders in BR . This is the option we have .