Well, finally the Home Minister, bereft of any other ideas, proclaimed that HINDRAF is an illegal organisation based on Section 5(1) of the Societies Act 1966. I searched for the Act, but can’t find it. Hope someone can send the link.

The declaration is with immediate effect. According to Home Minister (from Malaysiakini):

…the decision was made after the ministry was satisfied with facts and evidence that showed “Hindraf had and was being used for unlawful purposes and posed a threat to public order and morality”.

“Based on powers vested under Section 5(1) of the Societies Act, Hindraf from today is declared an illegal organisation,” he said in a statement today.

He said the order was being made as a result of monitoring and investigation on the organisation’s activities by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and Home Ministry, since Hindraf’s inception.

Syed Hamid said if left unchecked, Hindraf would continue to pose a threat to public order, the security and sovereignty of the country as well as the prevailing racial harmony.

“The decision to declare Hindraf an illegal organisation is not based on one or two of its activities that are in contravention of the law but covers all the actions it has taken since being formed,” he said.

Syed Hamid said Hindraf had all the criteria of an organised movement because it had filed for registration with the ROS on Oct 16 last year. He added that the application was yet to be approved.

He also said that the organisation had actively exploited the Indian community to organise illegal assemblies and street demonstrations without permits.

Such acts, he said, had resulted in some members of the Indian community to rise up against the government.

Syed Hamid also said that Hindraf’s actions also caused hatred among the Malays and Indians in the country.

“Hindraf has also tried to secure support from foreign countries for the purpose of pressuring the government to bow to its demands,” he added.

Syed Hamid advised the public to distance themselves from Hindraf and not participate in any way in any of its activities.

Among the first to respond was Lim Kit Siang:

In an immediate reaction DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said the banning of Hindraf was a testimony to the failure of the prime minister to take nation-building to a new and more mature level.

“It is a retrogressive, vindictive and petty step which will hamper the nation-building healing process vital for Malaysians to feel one and united people again,” he said in a statement.

He said that the “ham-fisted measures to ban Hindraf will only aggravate the disaffection among the Indian community”.

He gave an assurance that opposition MPs will raise in Parliament the banning of Hindraf.

“I invite MPs from all the BN component parties to join with Pakatan Rakyat MPs to take a common stand – to demand that the home minister revoke the ban on Hindraf…,” he said.

So, Malaysians are advised to ” to distance themselves from Hindraf and not participate in any way in any of its activities”. What does that mean? Can I mention the “H” word? Can links be published in blogs or websites? Can SMSes be sent wishing Happy Deepavali, Valghe Hindraf?

Will this be the opportunity to harass every Indian-looking person in the country? Simply stop you and check your handphones? Do roadblocks and target cars driven by Indians? Disperse groups of 5 or more Indians loitering around? Sounds extreme, but this is Bolehland after all. Anything is possible.

Earlier, I wrote about the situation if Hindraf is banned. So, would Hindraf be renamed to Makkal Sakthi? Will the leaders challenge the decision in court? Or will they join a political party to pursue Hindraf’s objectives? No more interviews with Hindraf leaders, so their voice won’t be heard. It will be hard to gather support via the print media, but there’s always SMS and Internet.

If there is a massive show of dissent against this decision, for example, everyone wears orange on next open house or on certain day of the month, would it mean Hindraf still have support?

Whatever it is, HINDRAF has made its mark in Malaysian history. It will always live as a legend in the minds and hearts of the Indian community especially. Only the name is banned, but the spirit and support for the movement will remain strong, if not grow stronger.