Media Statement by Lau Weng San in Petaling Jaya on Monday, 31^st March 2008: 

Release Manoharan and others from ISA detention to attend swearing-in ceremony for Selangor ADUNs 

According to formal notice from Selangor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Secretariat, the swearing-in ceremony for all 56 elected State Legislative Assemblypersons will be conducted on Tuesday 8th April 2008.

Therefore, we urge the Federal Government to release YB M. Manoharan, DAP ADUN for Kota Alam Shah before the swearing-in ceremony so that Manoharan can attend the ceremony and thus making the swearing-in ceremony a complete ceremony.

The continued detention of M. Manoharan under Internal Security Act (ISA) is no longer accepted by the people as voters in Kota Alam Shah had delivered a clear message to the Federal Government that they want Manoharan to represent them in the State Legislative Assembly with a majority of 7184 votes for Manoharan.

The Federal Government should release Manoharan so that he can effectively discharge his duties and responsibilities as an elected representative for Kota Alam Shah. Continued detention on Manoharan would mean that the Federal Government has no will to allow elected representative to discharge their duties and responsibilities and this is not a responsible government should do.

In fact, the Federal Government should not only release Manoharan but also the other four Hindraf ISA detainees, i.e. P. Uthayakumar, G. Kanabatirau, K. Kenghadharan and T. Vasanthakumar.

Their intention of being leaders of Hindraf is merely to voice out for the long marginalized Indian community in Malaysia and should not be regarded as threatening the security of the nation.

---

* Lau Weng San, ADUN for Kampung Tunku and DAP Selangor Secretary