I’m ashamed when there is rampant injustice: Anwar
Parti Keadilan Rak-yat's (PKR) de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has countered criticism that he was a political chameleon who took on the colours of the crowd he happened to be courting, according to political news website Malaysiakini.
"When I tell you I'm for justice, do you think I'm saying it only for your votes and not for the reason that being Malay and Muslim, I'm ashamed when there is rampant injustice and income disparities after 50 years of merdeka (independence)?" he asked a crowd of about 5,000 people during his seven-stop swing through the northern Malaysian state on Saturday.
In Kedah a day later, Mr Anwar also touched on the subject of the controversial destruction of a 100-year-old Hindu temple in Shah Alam, Selangor, last month.
Mr Anwar told a crowd of about 800 people: "If you build a temple near a mosque, I'll be in favour of pulling it down. But if you pull down a 100-year-old temple, I'll say you must have taken leave of your senses."
Meanwhile in Kuala Lumpur, five Hindu rights activists held under a tough Malaysian security law have demanded that they be allowed to be present in court during their application for freedom.
Their counsel, Mr Gobind Singh Deo, said yesterday that it was important for the five detainees to attend court to ensure the lawyers could get immediate instructions and to avoid delays in their bid for freedom as they argue that their detention is unlawful.
"Our argument is that at the end of the day, we have filed an application for habeas corpus, which means the court must act quickly," he added.
The judge has ordered government lawyers to seek the attorney-general's "good office" to produce the detainees in court, adding that the hearing would resume on Jan 24.
The five leaders of Hindraf (the Hindu Rights Action Force) were detained after they enraged the government last month by leading a mass rally protesting the alleged discrimination against minority ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
They are being held under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial. – AFP
