KUALA LUMPUR: An ethnic Indian rights group whose key officials were imprisoned without trial pledged on Friday to maintain its peaceful campaign against discrimination, and warned that minority Indians are losing confidence in Malaysia's government.
P Waytha Moorthy, chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force, told The Associated Press that he would plan the group's next steps from his current base in London, following the arrest yesterday of five senior members who led a massive street protest in Kuala Lumpur last month.
The group, known as Hindraf, shot to national prominence and sparked fears of ethnic unrest in this multicultural country when it held a street protest November 25 that drew at least 20,000 ethnic minority Indians demanding racial equality. Police used tear gas and water cannons to quell the rally.
"The government has made us heroes of the community," Waytha Moorthy said in a telephone interview. "They can take all of us in, put us behind bars, but they have not solved the issue."
Authorities sent Waytha Moorthy's brother and four other members yesterday to a prison for detainees under the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.
Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz acknowledged the move could cause the "possibility of ill feeling" among ethnic Indians, but insisted it was necessary to preserve national stability.
"They didn't heed our warnings. What choice are we left with?" Nazri said. "We have been patient but they have tested out patience, so we had to take them in."
The government denies discriminating against Indians, but Hindraf insists an affirmative action programme that gives privileges to the Muslim Malay majority in business, jobs and education is tantamount to unfair treatment.
Waytha Moorthy urged supporters to "remain calm" and avoid violent tactics, but warned that "when people lose confidence in the system, they may (turn) to other resorts."
"On our part, we are committed to a peaceful struggle," he said. "I'm still hopeful that the government will engage in dialogue with us."
Waytha Moorthy said he will lobby foreign governments and human rights groups to call for the release of the detainees, and added that the arrests could backfire on the government.
"I think we will get more support from the (Indian) community," he said. "It is made to look that we are a threat deliberately because they can't answer the voice of the people.... They want to silence the voice of the minority."
Opposition lawmaker Karpal Singh, a prominent lawyer, said he is seeking a court hearing to challenge the detention. He said under the Internal Security Act, police should investigate suspects for a 60-day initial detention period before sending them to a long-term prison.
"The arrests and detention are unlawful," Karpal said. "They are casting their nets too wide for no apparent reason. ... If the government has the evidence, give them an opportunity to defend themselves in court."
