Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has banned the non- governmental rights group Hindraf accusing it of exploiting racial issues and threatening national security, a move denounced as "ridiculous" by the opposition and ethnic Indian bodies which vowed to continue their "struggle" for equal rights for the community.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, in a statement issued last night, declared the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) - whose five leaders are under detention as part of the draconian Internal Security Act - an illegal organisation. Hindraf came into international focus after it organised a massive rally on November 25 last year against the alleged marginalisation of the ethnic Indian community in Malaysia. More than 20,000 people had attended the rally declared illegal by the government, taking the Abdullah Badawi administration by surprise.

The minister said the government move followed the result of monitoring and investigations by the country s Registrar of Societies (RoS) since Hindraf was formed.

"As a result of the investigations, the Home Ministry, as per its authority under sections 3 and 5 of the Societies Act 1966,has declared Hindraf unlawful and detrimental to peace, public order, security and the moral values of Malaysia," he said.

Syed Albar accused the Hindraf of exploiting "racial issues which caused an uprising against the government and created hatred between them and the Malays."

"I feel that if we don t rein in their activities, they will continue to jeopardise security and public order, and our country s sovereignty, as well as upset the harmony among races," he said.
Source : PTI