DAP is prepared to make the first move to mend ties with brothers P Waythamoorthy and Uthayakumar, who lead the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
National labour bureau chief A Sivanesan said DAP is prepared to meet Waythamoorthy in Singapore, as the latter faces the threat of detention should he return to Malaysia from London where he is living in self-imposed exile.
Sivanesan is confident that the unity talks can succeed if the Hindraf duo can be persuaded to cooperate in this direction.
"I don't mind going the extra mile if we can reunite the Indian (Malaysian) community to form a formidable force," he said.
DAP's change of heart was triggered after its Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan (below) - who is on good terms with the individuals concerned - proposed mediating between three sets of leaders.
They comprise DAP leaders P Ramasamy, Sivanesan and M Kulasegaran; the Hindraf duo; and former Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau (now with DAP) and K Vasanthakumar (PKR).
Waythamoorthy and Uthayakumar have crossed swords with Ramasamy and Sivanesan over a number of issues, including the demolition of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang, where the DAP leads the Pakatan Rakyat government.
In turn, both DAP leaders had challenged the brothers to declare the accounts for public donations collected in the name of Hindraf.
The movement, which came to prominence after a massive street rally in November 2007, was banned by the government in October 2008. Five of its leaders - including Ganabatirau and Vasanthakumar - were detained under the Internal Security Act, but were released last year.
On Dec 31 last year, Waythamoorth filed a RM100 million defamation suit in the Kuala Lumpur High Court against Ramasamy, Sivanesan, Ganabatirau, Vasanthakumar and six media organisations.
Just yesterday, Sivanesan had dared Waythamoorthy to return home to face cross-examination during the proceedings, rather than 'hide' in London.
Today, he said this is a separat
