Wrong move, Uthayakumar
Contesting as independents, not aligned to BN or Pakatan, may prove costly to both P Uthayakumar and HRP.
The other key leaders of Hindraf who were held under ISA together with Uthayakumar, are not following his path either. M Manogaran and Ganabatirau are actively involved in DAP while Vasanthakumar has joined PKR. Lawyer R Kenghadaran has not officially joined any political parties yet but he is not with Uthayakumar either.
RJ Rajah, Free Malaysia Today
At the second gathering convened in Klang on Sunday, inviting Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to declare Pakatan Rakyat’s plans to uplift the fate of Indians in this country in the event Pakatan captures Putrajaya, Human Rights Party (HRP) leader and Hindraf activist P Uthayakumar reiterated the party’s stand to contest the Kota Raja parliament and Sri Andalas state seats in Selangor.
The HRP’s website also declared that Uthayakumar would be the candidate for both the Kota Raja and Sri Andalas seats.
Uthayakumar also declared that HRP, which claims to be the political wing of Hindraf, is also eyeing to contest the parliament seats of Kuala Selangor and Kelana Jaya and the state seats of Seri Setia, Ijok and Bukit Melawati.
All these seats are in Selangor with a sizable presence of Indian voters. HRP has also announced its intention of contesting in at least seven parliament and 14 state seats across peninsular Malaysia.
With this announcement, a question arises whether HRP, which is yet to be approved as a political party by the authorities, would be able to make an impact in the forthcoming general elections among Indian voters and if so which of the political groups, Barisan Nasional or Pakatan would suffer damage as a result?
Uthayakumar’s dilemma?
Uthayakumar was one of the key leaders instrumental in leading the infamous Hindraf rally in 2007 with a clear vision and aim. However, having formed HRP since his release from detention under the Internal Security Act, he seems to be distracted with his political moves.
First he declared that HRP has requested some seats from Pakatan to contest in GE-13. Later he called on Anwar to declare what he would do for Indians during the first 100 days in power, should Pakatan form the next government.
When there was no response from Anwar, Uthayakumar held a second gathering in Klang on Sunday again inviting Anwar for the same purpose.
One former Hindraf supporter, not willing to identify himself said: “Uthayakumar should be politically sensible. Pakatan is facing the GE-13 on a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ platform and it would be difficult for Anwar or any other party leaders in Pakatan to declare particularly what they would do for Indians. We all know there is DAP and PAS in Pakatan, and these parties enjoy much more support among the Chinese and Malays respectively than the support enjoyed by HRP among the Indians.”
“So there cannot be a separate announcement on what Pakatan leaders would do for the Indians just because Uthayakumar is asking. Similarly, Uthayakumar should also ask the same question to BN and Umno but he is not doing that. Since GE-13 is not announced yet and with uncertainties as to who would be forming the next government, it would be suicidal for any national leader to announce what they would do particularly for Indians on the presumption of forming the next government.”
Uthayakumar also declared that they would reject Umno and BN. Furthermore, even if HRP candidates were to contest in GE-13 they can only do so as independents as their party is yet to be registered and it is unlikely that the party would be registered before GE-13.
A disintegrated Hindraf….
Meanwhile, Uthayakumar’s own brother Waythamoorthy, another Hindraf leader now residing in London, also announced that Hindraf would not field any candidates for GE-13 and that HRP’s decision to contest in GE-13 is not supported by Hindraf.
With Hindraf itself declared as unlawful by the Home Ministry, who are the persons in actual control of Hindraf is also not known.
The other key leaders of Hindraf who were held under ISA together with Uthayakumar, are not following his path either. M Manogaran and Ganabatirau are actively involved in DAP while Vasanthakumar has joined PKR. Lawyer R Kenghadaran has not officially joined any political parties yet but he is not with Uthayakumar either.
