December
7, 2007 Hindu Body
Seeking Terror Groups' Support, says Malaysian Police Chief
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia's police chief has alleged that a Hindu organisation
campaigning for a better deal for the Indian community was seeking
support from terror groups and warned of stern measures to prevent
racial violence.
"We view such matters very seriously. It is also very worrying
especially when we live in a multi-racial society," Inspector
General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan was quoted in The Star
newspaper Friday.
He charged the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) with collecting
funds "by misleading the public into believing that the money is to
finance its activities".
"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.
"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.
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 (SMS).
"It is also trying to rope in gangsters to prevent local authorities
from demolishing illegal temples in the near future," he said.
The police chief cited Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar as saying in an
interview in Monday's edition of Singapore's New Paper that that he
(Uthayakumar) would not rule out using violence.
The Tamil leader was quoted as saying that the recent 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," the paper quoted Uthayakumar as
saying.
He also allegedly made similar statements in an interview with an
Indian TV channel where he warned of serious consequences, the
police chief said.
Hindraf organised a rally on November 15 that attracted an estimated
10,000 people. Although it was peaceful, police dispersed it using
water cannon charge.
Thirtyone people are being tried for leading the rally, declared
illegal by the police and have been denied bail by a court.
Hindraf claims to speak for the Indian ethnic community, who form
eight percent of Malaysia's 27 million people.
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