After Waythamoorty gave an interview in Malaysiakini (here and here), one of the HINDRAF 5 ex-ISA detainee raised some questions and allegations, mainly questioning the status of funds collected during the incarceration of the HINDRAF 5. How can they know that collection ran into millions? Bank statements?

Let’s see how Waytha replies. This kind of ding-dong war of words will reveal more and more dirt on either/both sides.  Each will accuse the other, but so far no proof from any quarters. I

Hindraf activist and former ISA detainee V Ganabatirau has accused the outlawed movements current leader, P Waythamoorthy, of using millions of ringgit collected from the people for his personal use while in self-imposed exile in London.

He said funds collected by the movement for the Hindraf 5 who were detained under the ISA, never reached them or their families.

“Initially funds were collected by highlighting the suffering of the so called Hindraf 5. From December 13th 2007, the focus was changed to highlighting the suffering of our family members. The total amount collected runs into millions,” he said when asked to comment on the funds

“My family did not receive a single sen from the funds. When questioned, Waythamoorthy,the defacto head, claimed that the funds were meant for a civil suit that was to be filed against the British government.”

But the suit expired as civil matters must be pursed within three months after filing which was Nov 29 2007.

“I believe that the suit was deliberately allowed to expire so that he could enjoy his exile and the good life in London.

“All our hopes vanished with Waythamoorthy when he did not pursue the suit.

“The public had high hopes. We only wanted the plight of poor and marginalised Indians here to be exposed. Not for the money,” said Ganabatirau (right).

Wayathamoorthy had last week claimed in an interview with Malaysiakini that the suit was foiled by the Malaysian government and police.

But Ganabatirau rubbished the reasoning given by Waythamoorthy saying that they could ‘never be accepted’.

“Why should he go for a pilgrimage to India on Nov 27 2007?” Ganabatirau asked, recalling the events that led the detention of five of them in Kamunting under the ISA.

According to Ganabatirau, Waythamoorthy personally assured him that the suit would be filed.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, the former lawyer also denied that Waythamoorthy was the movement’s treasurer. [i thought he was the leader, not treasurer]

In fact, Hindraf was registered as an business enterprise and as such, there was no need for a treasurer, he said

Ganabatirau also said the rift in Hindraf began after the suit failed to materialise.

“The started rift during my detention under ISA that led to Uthayakumar to accuse me of being a Special Branch (SB) agent because I raised the suit issue,” he said when asked to comment on allegations that he was a government spy.

Who is the boss?

The Hindraf leader turned activist said that he met Hindraf lawyer P Uthayakumar in December 2006.

Ganabatirau added that he actively organised forums and demonstrations together with (fellow Hindraf activist and former ISA detainee) K Vasanthakumar on temple demolitions between January to April 2007.

“Both of us played key roles in pulling in the crowds. Prior to our involvement, the crowds numbered between 20 and 30 people only .”

He added that application for permission for holding the November 25 2007 rally to handover the memorandum to the British government was organised by him and Vsanthakumar.

The suit against the British government intended to claim 1 million pounds sterling for every Indian in Malaysia since independence for displacing them from their homeland.

“Waythamoorthy contributed nothing to the movement except being named plaintiff in the suit. All the trips that he made was paid for by using money collected from the people,” Ganabatirau said when asked to elaborate on the current Hindraf chairperson’s role.

“He is a chicken. If there is a forum, he would ask me whether there were police or SB (Special Branch personnel) in the vicinity before coming to give a speech.”

He also commented on RS Thanenthirran’s involvement in the movement.

“Why was there no condemnation from Waythamoorthy against Thanentirran who ‘hijacked’ the term ‘Makkal Sakthi for the party. Both Vasantha and I coined the term.”

RS Thanentiran formed Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party which made overtures to the BN government that led to the possibility of Waythamoorthy’s anticipated return to Malaysia.

‘Hijacked movement’

“Waythamoorthy also appointed himself as the chairman of Hindraf and appointed Thanenthirran and S Jayathas as coordinator. Who made him the boss? There was no election. Who gave him the right to appoint and dismiss coordinators?

Ganabatirau also added that he was also against the idea of Hindraf activists visiting the then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as it was Thanenthirran’s method of hijacking Hindraf.

“Don’t you see that he is discriminating and marginalising me and Vasanthakumar even as he speaks on the discrimination and marginalisation of the Indian community ever since we were detained?

Ganabatirau also questioned the motives of Waythamoorthy who is blaming Pakatan Rakyat for the Kampung Buah Pala fiasco.

“Whom does he want to please to ensure his safe return?”

Ganabatirau, along with K Vasanthakumar, K Kenghadaran, P Uthayakumar and M Manoharan, were key leaders who led 30,000 people in a protest rally against the marginalisation of the Indian community in Malaysia in Nov 2007.

The large scale demonstration in Kuala Lumpur led to the detention of the five under Internal Security Act.