Received via email:

PRESS STATEMENT 190409

On the 17th April I had released a statement on the urgent need to restructure HINDRAF and the setting up of a New Committee and Working Groups.

This statement has been misinterpreted and misunderstood by certain segment of the public which read it as though we are replacing our coordinators. This is not the case as it merely a restructuring exercise.

The original 10 member committee was set up to oversee the campaign and demands for the release of HINDRAF leaders and since then those appointed to the position of coordinators have moved on to undertake other key responsibilities which is far more challenging with the increased need of the society.

Manoharan and Manickavasagam have since been elected members of Parliament, which requires them to positively contribute to the country and their constituents.

Surendran solely has been mounted with the uphill task of handling the burden of all legal matters which was previously handled by 3 of the HINDRAF Lawyers (Uthaya, Manoharan and Genga).

Tanendran has since indicated that he is serious about forming his own political party.

With the recent change of the country’s leadership earlier this month, I am of the opinion HINDRAF have to “cave in” for a longer period to struggle for the society to pressure the Government to meet our demands as well as working together in co-operation with all opposition parties to prepare for the next General Election.

As chairman of HINDRAF, I can state that the valuable and sound advice, support and contribution from the aforesaid Politicians, Members of Parliament and Legal advisor has been vital in spearheading HINDRAF in its struggle. The continuous support from them would only strengthen the movement’s direction in fulfilling the demands of the Indian community

The expectations and aspirations of the Indian community are beyond the original demands and HINDRAF needs to keep up with the needs and changes to be relevant and “a player” in the field of Human Rights in Malaysia.

In these circumstances a complete revamp and restructure is needed to face the new challenges.

The new structure would be announced within the next few days.

P.Waytha Moorthy

CHAIRMAN

There’s some problem arising now.  Even though coordinator are asked not give out statements, we find Thanenthiran doing so:

R. Thanenthiran, who was a national coordinator until Waytha- moorthy issued the suspension order, said the movement was now taking steps to become a formal political party.

He said an official statement about the formation of the new party was expected at the end of this month or early next month.

“Since Hindraf was banned, we have been facing difficulties and we need to continue being mobile to take care of the welfare of the Indian community,” he said, adding that it would be the alternative to existing Indian parties.

He said the process to form a new party is nearly completed.

The movement’s new structure is expected to comprise a non-government organisation and a political party.

Thanenthiran’s goal, which had earlier appeared in an online news portal, seemed different from what Waythamoorthy was pushing for.

Yesterday, Waythamoorthy, who has maintained that Hindraf/Makkal Sakthi should remain a non-political pressure group, said: “It is Thanenthiran’s right to become involved in politics or to set-up a political party. I cannot stop him and will not stop him.”

Another former national coordinator, S. Manikavasagam, agreed with Waythamoorthy’s stand, saying Hindraf should remain apolitical.

“Waythamoorthy had from the very beginning stressed that Hindraf/Makkal Sakthi will not be involved in politics but function as a pressure group,” said Manikavasagam.

Waytha clarifies the original reason for the setup of the coordinators:

He said that the original 10-member committee was set up towards the end of 2007 to oversee the movement’s campaign in fighting for the rights of the Indian community and to demand for the release of Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act in December 2007.

Malaysiakini also quoted from Malaysia Nanban:

And highlighting the widening rift in the movement, leading Tamil daily Malaysia Nanban today carried a headline which asked ‘Who is Waythamoorthy?’.

The daily quoted some grassroots supporters questioning Waythamoorthy’s decision to remain overseas while faulting the local coordinators.

“He should have been here fighting with us for our cause rather than issuing statements from overseas,” they said.

Now, I wonder which grassroots members are asking him to fight for their cause in Malaysia. Don’t they know ISA is waiting for him? Must be a bunch of misinformed grassroots supporters.

This is a big risk indeed for HINDRAF. The restructuring can backfire bigtime. I’m not sure how thing will turn out. We have to wait for more information from Waytha. Another factor will be the action of the coordinators like Thanenthiran – would they start to badmouth Hindraf in case they are not in the new setup? For a fledgling body, any sort of scandal or exposure will bury it.

But, I still remember Waytha’s newspaper interview in 2007 which he said that HINDRAF may cease to exist in the future, maybe something else will replace it, or there won’t be a reason for it to exist.