“Malay Tamils trying to garner support from terrorist groups”

(December, 07, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sri Lanka Guardian) There are signs lately that the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is trying to garner support from terrorist groups, the police charged yesterday.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Hindraf has also set up a fund by misleading the public into believing that the money is to finance its activities.

“We view such matters very seriously. It is also very worrying especially when we live in a multi-racial society.

“The police will not hesitate to take stern action against anyone to ensure that peace and security prevails in this country,” he said.

Musa also said the group was trying to sow hatred towards the Government and that its actions could spark racial clashes.

He said such dangerous sentiments were being widely spread via Hindraf forums, distribution of books and leaflets, on websites as well as through the short messaging service.

“It is also trying to rope in gangsters to prevent local authorities from demolishing illegal temples in the near future.

“The fanning of such racial sentiments among the Indians is very unhealthy and dangerous,” Musa said, adding that the police would not hesitate to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those who abused technology to stoke racial hatred or unrest.

The IGP said those found guilty of spreading such messages through SMS or e-mail could be jailed up to three years, fined RM10,000, or both, under Section 28 of the ISA.

One of Hindraf’s leaders, P. Uthayakumar, was reported as saying in an interview in Monday's edition of Singapore’s New Paper that that he would not rule out using violence.

He was quoted as saying that the protest by monks in Myanmar last September inspired Hindraf’s public protest.

“The monks were prepared to die for their cause. I’ve shown slides of monks getting shot and killed during my roadshows and I think it struck a chord with the people.

“I think it’s quite unlikely we’ll head down that path towards a civil war but there’s always that possibility. Some of the uneducated may resort to violence,” Uthayakumar was quoted as saying by the paper.

He also allegedly made similar statements in an interview with Indian national television in a programme called Times Now, where he warned of serious consequences.

(Malaysian Star)