In a supposedly caring society like ours, it is to be expected that there are people who will participate in a peaceful demonstration to express their deep concern for fellow Malaysians who they consider have not been given due care and attention or, worse, have been treated unjustly by the powers-that-be.
That is why there were groups today that went on the streets of Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown, among other places, to raise public awareness about ISA detainees, and the Hindraf leaders who have been detained under ISA, in particular P. Uthayakumar, who requires urgent medical attention at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
In KL, the rally at the KLCC went on smoothly, but the one on Gurney Drive in Penang ended in a disturbing manner. Blogger Anil Netto (see here) and Malaysiakini reported (see here) that Penang Watch head BK Ong, blogger K. Satish Kumar, Suaram Penang coordinator Lau Shu Shi and Suaram secretariat member Teh Chun Ong were detained by the police. Earlier, the four took part in the Penang demonstration to demand the release of the ISA detainees and to express concern for ISA detainee P. Uthayakumar.
The Penang demo was jointly organised by the Penang group of Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), Suaram, Penang Watch, Tanjung Workers Service Centre, and Repeal ISA Coailition (GMI).
Unfortunate incidents such as this one in Penang suggest that the post-March 8 powers-that-be is still not fully appreciative of the caring attitude of citizens and also their right of assembly and freedom of expression.
