Jailed Malaysian Indian lawmaker to resign May 19

Malaysian Indian lawmaker M. Manoharan, who is serving a two-year jail term under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA), has said he would resign as he is unable to serve his constituents.

Legal advisor to banned outfit Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), Manoharan set May 19 as the date for his resignation, Star Online reported quoting a statement released by his wife S. Pushpaneela.

Nominated by DAP, Manoharan was elected from Kota Alam Shah in the election held in March last year. He has not been released from jail to attend the assembly since then.

He is one of the three Hindraf leaders serving two-year jail terms under ISA after the organisation held a protest rally in November 2007.

Manoharan cited his feeling of guilt and inability to serve his constituents as the main reasons for his decision to resign.

"I have to consider resigning, paving the way for a by-election in order for my constituents to re-elect their new representative, who will be better able to serve them and who will be able to attend all the sittings of the Selangor Legislative Assembly," he said in the statement.

Manoharan also expressed his disappointment as he had exhausted all avenues for his release.

"I have written a letter to former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, three to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, eight to former home minister Syed Hamid Albar and two to the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah."

His applications to the home minister to attend the state assembly sitting and his plea for release have been rejected.

The high court dismissed his three habeas corpus applications, while the federal court dismissed his three appeals.

Hindraf claims to speak for Malaysia's two million-plus ethnic Indians, a bulk of them Tamil Hindus who came here during the British era.

ved/rd/dg

( 316 Words)

2009-05-03-14:59:39 (IANS)

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