Malaysian State Assemblyman in Detention for Oath

State Assemblyman for district Kota Alam Shah S'gor Mr M. Manoharan will have to be sworn-in by the State Assembly Speaker in detention on May 8th 2008 at 0900hrs. It is almost 150 days now since he has been detained without trial under the draconian law ISA ( Internal Security Act). Mr M. Manoharan is a lawyer by profession with human rights expertise and is the legal advisor to HINDRAF( HINDU RIGHTS ACTION FORCE).

While in detention Mr. Manoharan stood for the post of State Assemblyman for the district of Kota Alam Shah in the town of Klang in the state of Selangor and won with a majority of 7,500+ votes in an area that has about nearly 26,000 voters, primarily Chinese, Malays & lastly Malaysians of Indian origin. Malaysia has approx 28 million people with 60% plus being the Malay, nearly 30% plus Chinese and other races and from the total population approx 2% are Indians.

Mr. Manoharan was detained sometime after the massive HINDRAF protest rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25th that drew 30,000+ Indians in Malaysia who protested for basic human rights for the practise of religion, equal education rights for Indian students, fair and just business rights, and equal employment of qualified Indians into the government service like police and public services agencies under the federal and state goverments ,among many other unfair treatments of Malaysian Indians.

The Malaysian police and Attorney General threw allegations that the leaders of HINDRAF were seeking support from terrorists, which charge was challenged by HINDRAF to prove it or face lawsuit and they could not prove it. A ex-Malaysian minister ( S. Samy Vellu ) in Tamil Nadu recently has openly said that the Malaysian government does not have any evidence to substanciate their claims.

Mr M. Manoharan is a familyman with 4 school-going children and is a people person at heart. Currently, his wife Mdm Puspaneela is balancing between manning the law firm of Mr M. Manoharan, being mother to his childrens, a housewife & most importantly serving on his behalf for the voters in the constituency of Kota Alam Shah. This has already begun to take a toll on her health and mental wellbeing, though so far she has been very high spirited and have not stopped or neglected any of the duties above.

We are asking the world to release a statement favoring the immediate and unconditional release of State Assemblyman Mr M. Manoharan by the Malaysian government in honoring the process of democracy so that he can come back to work for his voters.

Please email or call me if you have anymore questions or enquiries in our campaign that we pray to GOD to be short, peacefull & importantly successful.

Thank you sir/madam

Damien Thanam
Political Assistant to Selangor State Assemblyman Mr M. Manoharan
+6012 696 1129