Thursday, February 17, 2011

'Hindraf has no permit for Feb 27 rally'

The New Straits Times

PUTRAJAYA: The banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which is planning a massive rally on Feb 27, will have to do it "at its own risk", said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein here yesterday.

He said the organisation did not apply for a permit to hold the rally.

Hishammuddin was commenting on a statement by Hindraf legal adviser and Human Rights Party Malaysia pro-tem secretary-general P. Uthayakumar, who said the organisation would go ahead with the rally to call for a ban on Interlok despite the arrest of 58 of its members last week.

The rally is to be held at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre at 9am.

When asked if a permit would be issued, Hishammuddin said he would leave it to the relevant authorities to decide on the matter.

He was speaking to reporters after chairing the post-cabinet meeting.

Present were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop and director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad.

On another matter, Hishammuddin shot down the possibility of providing Selangor with auxiliary policemen, calling the request by the state government insincere and against the constitution.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had sent a second request for auxiliary policemen earlier this month. The first was made in July last year.

"I am a little aggrieved by the request as prior to this, the state government had never offered to help the police bring down the crime rate in the state.

"When the crime rate fell, they used it as an excuse to ask for auxiliary policemen, which seems to negate our efforts," he said, adding the state government just wanted to sensationalise matters.

When asked if Selangor had enough policemen, he said the fact was that the crime rate in the state had dropped.