Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email The Home Minister may have denied accusations that proper medical care have been denied for Uthaya Kumar, but no one seems to believe him. Anyway, about 200++ people gathered to accompany Uthaya’s mother to hand over memorandum to persuade PM to allow for proper medical treatment for Uthaya. Even though the Star said the memo was handed over to PM, information via email says it was given to one of his private secretaries. The appeal letter and Waytha’s press statement is also available online. I just hope the memo doesn’t end up like those that MIC and others submitted throughout the years.
Received via email from Vasantha Krishnan:
A peacefull gathering to send a memorandum to PM’s office was held today. The memorandum is to appeal to Prime Minister YAB Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’ administration to refer Human Rights Defender and Prisoner of Conscience P.Uthayakumar to the National Heart Institute urgently and to seek for a complete medical check up following denial of diabetes medication, premature discharge from Taiping Hospital and the continued serving of high sugar content diet.
Crowd of 200 started to gather at the PM’s office in Putrajaya at 10.15 am today and swell to more than 300 by 10.30. P.Udayakumar mother (K Kalaivaniy, 64), sister in Law (K. Shanti) and relatives arrived at about 10.35 am. Among others who were there are the National coordinator Mr. Thanenthiran, The event coordinator Mr. Kannan , Mr. Jayatas, Mr Dharmalingam and most of the Hindraf leaders. There was a short press statement by Mr. Thanenthiran who stated that even when Karpal Singh was held under ISA he was given all the medical treatment needed by then PM Dr Mahathir’s administration.
At about 11.20 am 10 members of the crowd were allowed to go into the office of Datuk Md. Salleh (Setiausaha Sulit Perdana Menteri). Among the 10 are Mr. Udaya’s Mother , Sister in law, Mr. Thanenthiran, Kannan, MP Sivanesan and others. They were in for about 1 hour. Mr Udaya’s mother was in tears when she came out of the meeting room.
During the press statement K. Shanti states that Mr Udaya’s mother made a very emotional plea to Datuk Md. Salleh to make sure her son is given all the necessary medical assistance by the government. Datuk Salleh promised that the matter will be brought to PM’s knowledge by today and the Hindraf leaders will be informed on the immediate action by the government on this matter.Mr. Udaya is very ill with failing heart and eye sight, his sugar level is very high and if not treated urgently he may go into coma. Shanti said the PM and the government will be held responsible if anything untoward may happen to Mr. Udaya.
The gathering ends peacefully at about 1.15PM. Video’s will be posted shorthly.
From The Star:
Uthayakumar’s mum pleads for his release
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS
PUTRAJAYA: The mother of ISA detainee P. Uthayakumar has appealed to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the immediate release of her son, claiming that his health was deteriorating and that he was in dire need of medical attention. K. Kalaivaniy, accompanied by some 100 Hindraf supporters and the movement’s national co-ordinator R.S. Thanendran, submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister in his office at around 11am on Tuesday.
The 66-year-old widow, who lives in Seremban, said her son’s release was urgent as he needed to take medicine to treat his diabetes. “He has not taken medication for his diabetes for a month, and this is very dangerous,” she said when met on Tuesday. “When I visited him last week, he complained of being ill because he had not been on medication. I plead for my son’s release and I will bear all his medical expenses myself,” she added.
