It will be a party or NGO, says Uthayakumar

(The Star) – Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar will form a political party or a non-governmental organisation soon.

“It all depends on the feedback we get from our supporters and well-wishers,” he said.

The organisation, be it a political party or NGO, would be one of its kind in the country, he added.

“We will stand on our own and will represent, in particular, the most vulnerable communities in the country,” said Uthayakumar, 48.

He said a decision would be announced at the Klang Hokkien Hall on July 19. “We are expecting our supporters from all over to gather there on that day.”

He will be meeting Hindraf supporters over the weekend to gauge their sentiments.

Uthayakumar said he conceptualised the framework for the organisation during his 514-day detention under the Internal Security Act. He was freed in May.

The proposed organisation, he said, would be a third force in the country besides Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

A source close to Uthayakumar said the organisation would probably be a political party based on the principles of human rights.

“Human rights is an issue very close to his heart. Recent events such as the Kampung Buah Pala saga has made him realise that there is a need for an independent political voice to represent the suppressed,” he said.

He said the possibility that the organisation would be political in nature was also based on the Indian community’s disappointment in Pakatan.

In Putrajaya, Registrar of Societies Datuk Alias Kalil said there had been no application from Uthayakumar to form a political party.

“We have not received anything from him. No applications (have been submitted) as of today (yesterday),” he said.

Currently, there are 32 political parties and 44,777 associations registered with the ROS nationwide.