Pics from Mkini
From thestar.com.my:
KUALA LUMPUR: A father and daughter share a special bond, and this was proven yesterday in the case of V. Vishaleny and K. Vasantha Kumar. Four-year-old Vishaleny, who is being warded at a private hospital in Cheras for severe viral fever, had asked to see her father, a Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) coordinator who is being held under ISA detention in Kamunting. A Special Branch officer had gone to the hospital at noon to inform the family that Vasantha Kumar would be brought to the hospital later yesterday. A large number of police and Special Branch officers were stationed at the hospital from 1pm until Vasantha Kumar arrived at 5pm. The detainee spent about 40 minutes with his sick daughter before being whisked away.
A small group of Hindraf supporters gathered outside the hospital to catch a glimpse of Vasantha Kumar. Vasantha Kumar’s wife, K. Vickneswary, said Vishaleny was asleep when her father arrived and was too dazed to say much to him. “All she said was “Appa (father), why you came so late?”‘ said Vickneswary. Vickneswary said Vasantha Kumar was troubled to see his daughter so ill. “I could see the tears in his eyes and I can understand why. Both our children have never been seriously ill or admitted to hospital before this,” said Vickneswary. The couple have another daughter, six-year-old Kayatirri.
Vickneswary thanked Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar for his compassion in allowing her husband to visit their daughter.
In Penang, Hindraf co-ordinator R.S. Thanenthiran appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release its five leaders detained under the ISA. He said Abdullah had shown to be a man of compassion when he acknowledged the pain and loss suffered by the six Supreme Court judges who were sacked in 1988.
