Funding A Terrorist Organisation

Barisan Nasional is at it again.

By questioning HINDRAF donors, it is obviously trying to intimidate all those whose sympathies lie with HINDRAF.

Cops go after Hindraf donors

Soon Li Tsin | Jan 9, 08 5:23pm
Malaysiakini

If you have made a donation to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement, the police may be knocking on your door soon.The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has sent letters to individuals summoning them to give statements at the Bukit Aman police headquarters over a possible offence of funding a terrorist organisation.The letter stated that the police are investigating this offence under Section 130N of the Penal Code - the funding of terrorist activities.If found guilty, the person can be punished with death (if the terrorist act results in death), imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but not exceeding 30 years and a fine.

“The police believe that you can provide a statement about funds given to Hindraf Enterprise,” read the letter signed by investigating officer ASP Rozeni Ismail.

A donor who received the letter and was quizzed by the police recently said references were made to a RHB bank account registered under the name ‘Hindraf Enterprise’.

The donor, who requested anonymity, said the police recorded statement in relation to some other offence - non-terrorism related - committed by the company.

“It is odd that the matter is being dealt by the Commercial Crimes Department because during questioning, they made no reference to the terrorist offences. They said the company could be charged for impropriety in soliciting donations and funds.

“It is also very alarming that the banks can give information about their clients and their transactions to the police without the need for a court order.”

Under the Section 16A of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958, banks are permitted to convey any information in relation to any offences to the police or affected financial institutions.

Many being summoned

However, the donor pointed out that the recording of the statement took only 30 minutes and the police were pleasant throughout the period.

“I don’t think I am the only one. When I asked if there were others, the officer said there were many other people being summoned,” the donor added.

Hindraf gained fame when it organised a protest that saw 30,000 people hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.

This was followed by the movement’s leaders and supporters being charged for a slew of offences including sedition, causing mischief and attending an illegal assembly.

On Dec 8, 2007, the Companies Commission of Malaysia revoked the registration of Hindraf Enterprise for using the company for unlawful purposes and purposes prejudicial to national security and public order.

The company at that time had set up a bank account for the public to donate money to the cause and for those incarcerated in need of bail money.

At the height of enforcement action, enigmatic Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar with R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan, V Ganabathirau and T Vasanthakumar were arrested under the Internal Security Act on Dec 13 last year.

They have been detained for two years without trial.

CCID director ACP Mohd Kamarudin Md Din was unavailable to comment on this investigation when contacted.

So you'd think it was confirmed that HINDRAF is a terrorist organisation. Right?

Think again. In NDTV, our prize idiot, the favourite Malaysian minister clarifies govt stand.


To emphasize my point:

NDTV: Do you have any evidence to back your government's charge that the Hindraf has links with terrorists?

D S Vellu: Hindraf said they would fight like the Tigers, the way the Tigers are fighting in Sri Lanka. It was by Vedamurthy. After he talked like that, we did an investigation and it was felt that he may have gone there for training.

NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?

D S Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.

So individuals are being summoned to give statements over the SUSPICION of a possible offence of funding a terrorist organisation??

You mean, like take one of your precious annual leave, drive all the way to Bukit Aman, just to affirm that you have banked in money to a HINDRAF account?? To an account belonging to an enterprise that the government shut down due to SUSPICION of belonging to a terrorist group???

Are these people nuts??

I'm beginning to think they need mental treatment.

Thankfully sanity prevails among some of us. A citizen we Malaysians can be proud of, Cheah Kah Seng has suggested we all donate RM1 to Hindraf as a sign of protest against this bullying by the Barisan Nasional thugs.

He says:

From all I can see, the accusation of terrorism against Hindraf completely lacks credibility and was done in bad faith. Even if we don't agree with some of Hindraf's rhetoric, the Hindraf 5 under ISA detention deserve all the help they can get.

You've said it, man!

Read the whole letter, it's a good one and accessible to those who don't subscribe as well.