Saturday March 29, 2008

Hamid: We can’t just free ISA detainee

PUTRAJAYA: Hindu Rights Action Force leader M. Manoharan who is being detained under the Internal Security Act cannot be released just because he was elected Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

“We cannot simply react to political parties’ calls. We have to give priority to public safety and peace and will give due consideration only if there is no threat to national security.”

Manoharan would not be able to attend state assembly sessions while under detention.

He could, however, take the oath as a state assemblyman at the detention camp as this had been done in the past, Syed Hamid said.

Chian Heng Kai and Chan Kok Kit, who won the Batu Gajah and Sungai Besi parliamentary seats respectively on a DAP ticket, were sworn-in in the presence of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker and secretary, and camp authorities in 1978.

Manoharan is being detained with P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, K. Vasantha Kumar and R. Kengadharan for their involvement with Hindraf.

Syed Hamid said their detention would be reviewed by an advisory board comprising judicial and legal officers.

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