> Proof of passport revocation
The banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) today revealed a document purportedly issued by British authorities confirming that Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy's passport had been revoked by the Malaysian government.
Waythamoorthy is currently living in self-exile in London, having left shortly before the police detained five key Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act last December.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar had previously denied that the Waythamoorthy’s passport had been revoked.
On May 26, Syed Hamid said his ministry had been informed by the Immigration Department that the Malaysian international passport issued to Waythamoorthy "is still active in our passport and travel document system".
However, speaking to reporters in the Parliament building today, Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran challenged this claim based on a copy of a letter apparently issued by the UK Border Agency of the Home Office in Croydon.
Dated Sept 23, 2008, this was in response to questions submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Waythamoorthy’s London lawyers on July 23. They received the letter on Sept 26.
Based on a copy of the letter signed by Rosanna Pomroy (post not stated), answers were provided to four questions:
1. The precise date when the British Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was notified of the cancellation?
A: The letter from the Malaysian authorities to the High Commission was dated March 14, 2008.
2. Which Malaysian authority notified the British Embassy (was it, for example, the Immigration authorities/Foreign Office or Home Ministry or any other department)?
A: I can confirm that the Home Office does hold information that is relevant to this part of your request. However we have decided not to communicate this information to you in accordance with the exemption under Section 27(2) of the FOI Act, which covers confidential information obtained from a State other than the UK or from an international organisation or international court [...]
3. Whether any particular reason was given for said cancellation
A: The passport was cancelled as the Malaysian authorities were seeking your client’s arrest to face criminal charges.
4. When was the request made by the issuing authority for the return of the passport and was there any reason given for this request?
A: A request was made by the Malaysian authorities for the return of your client’s passport on July 2, 2008. No reason was given [...]
Minister ‘lied to House’
Thanenthiran claimed that this “proves that Syed Hamid lied to the House when he said Waythamoorthy's passport was not revoked...he has misled the House and the public".
He also demanded that the minister be investigated over his statement and charged under the Sedition Act for misleading the public.
"We have lodged 42 police reports against him nationwide, but so far there has been no police action. The police should not be one-sided just because he is minister. No one is above the law,” he noted.
(Syed Hamid) had lied to the House and the public (about the passport). Leaders have to be honest, (but he) tarnished the country’s image...he does not deserve to be a minister.”
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, who was at the press conference in a show of support, expressed shock over Thanenthiran’s revelation.
Lim described it as a “breach of privilege” and suggested that Syed Hamid be referred to the parliamentary privileges committee for disciplinary action.
He deliberately misled the House and the public when he denied that Waythamoorthy’s passport was revoked and he should be referred to the committee,” said Lim.
The MP for Ipoh Timor also suggested that the cabinet should review the ban on Hindraf when it meets on Friday.
“The decision was baseless and (the government) should (lift) the ban. Instead, it has to address the issues raised by Hindraf about Indians being marginalised, victimised and discriminated against in this country,” he noted.
Lim also said that he would raise the revelation about the passport in the House as soon as possible.
Syed Hamid had earlier suggested, too, that the passport could have expired and said a misunderstanding could have occurred over the status of the document. However, Waythamoorthy then clarified that his passport would only expire in 2010.
On July 14, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri had told the Dewan Rakyat during Question time that the Immigration Department had not revoked Waythamoorthy's passport, although it had received instructions to do so.
Police record details
Thanenthiran also condemned the ban imposed on Hindraf since Oct 15, saying that the government “is just too scared to deal with the truth”.
Opposition parliamentarian Dr D Jeyakumar (PSM-Sungai Siput) observed that the government should have met with Hindraf leaders following the massive street protest on Nov 25 last year.
“It has been 11 months, but the government has yet to come to them to address the problems they are facing,” he said.
Others at the press conference were M Manogaran (DAP-Teluk Intan), R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang), N Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang). Also present were Waythamoorthy’s wife K Shanti and their six-year-old daughter Vwaishnavi.
This morning, there was a heavy police presence in front of the Parliament entrance to prevent the Hindraf leaders and supporters from entering the building.
However, they managed to gather in front of the guard house where they released some pigeons as a symbol of freedom. They then proceeded to the Parliament lobby, gaining admission with the help from some MPs.
There was some tension when they left the building. Police stopped them at the main entrance and there was uncertainty if they would be arrested.
However, the police allowed them to leave after recording details of their Mykad and inspecting their vehicles - Malaysiakini.
