Now that the PM had announced his new Cabinet, he should, without delay, release the 5 Hindraf detainees at the Kamunting Centre. The PM missed his golden opportunity before the General Election in not releasing the Hindraf 5. Had he done so before the election, he would have played his trump card and won over the Indians’ support. Though the Indian vote is small, it makes a difference between winning and losing the election.

Take a leaf from the MB of Selangor, Khalid Ibrahim and PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim. After winning the elections, they went to sort out the problem about the Hindu temple in Shah Alam; and managed to get the developer to give a bigger piece of land and RM40,000 for the construction of the Hindu temple. That was a good gesture and it would pay dividends in the next polls.

It is foolhardy to step on a sensitive issue like religion. By showing brute force and stark arrogance, by demolishing the Hindu temples, BN lost Selangor. Their acts had strong implications - it simply meant that the authorities could not be bothered with the feelings of the docile Indian people in that area, not knowing that they would help send a tsunami throughout the land.

And MIC, the protector of Indian interests, could do nothing to help the Indians. The result?

Their top six guns were wiped out at the polls. If you do not care for the people, the people will also pay you in the same coin.

Respect all religions. All people have the right to worship their God. Give them space to do so.

Take a leaf from the former chief minister of Penang, Koh Tsu Koon, In defeat, he was a true gentleman and accepted the results. Other BN people should accept the election results as well. Throwing tantrums like a spoilt brats would further anger the voters; and they would show who is the boss in Penang , Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan the next time around too.

Learn from the mistakes of the past; and go forward. Those who have not learnt their lessons will be condemned to repeat the same mistakes again. Now that a mistake was made regarding the Hindraf and Bersih demonstrations, release the Hindraf 5. If any of them had committed a crime, produce him in court and produce evidence. In a Court of law, evidence is of paramount importance.

I must commend the PM for picking Zaid Ibrahim as a minister for legal affairs. The judiciary needs reform, which many were crying for; but their cries fell on deaf ears. Let’s make the Malaysian judiciary a beacon of hope for all people seeking redress and justice. It is the last bastion for the wronged .

So, release the Hindraf 5 from the Kamunting detention centre.