The Human Rights Party's (HRP) attempts to submit a memorandum to the Agong today at the Istana met with disappointment as none of the palace representatives showed up to receive them.

The memorandum, along with supporting documents, called for education aid for high-achieving Indian youths.

About 50 HRP members gathered at the gates of the national palace earlier this afternoon and were met by a palace security official who initially said that the memorandum would be accepted.

After several minutes, however, the security official returned to inform the activists that no palace official would be receiving the memorandum on the Agong’s behalf.

hindraf btn 151209 uthayakumar Speaking to the press at the palace gates, HRP chief P Uthayakumar expressed his disappointment.

He said a palace official had earlier acknowledged receiving the party’s request for an appointment to submit the memorandum.

“We are disappointed that no palace representatives are here to receive our memorandum,” said Uthayakumar, showing reporters the stamp of acknowlegement on HRP's letter to the palace.

"We will just leave it at the gate and disperse peacefully," he said.

HRP information chief S Jayathas then placed copies of the memorandum and other papers containing more information on the issue on the ground at the palace gates.

UN help sought

Among the documents accompanying the memorandum were the 31 police reports that HRP and other Indian-based groups and individuals had lodged against the BN-led government for marginalising the Indian community.

Also included was a collection of 14,207 signatures supporting scholarships and university placements for Indian youths and a list of 69 high-achieving Indian students who failed to obtain government scholarships.

HRP members, some wheelchair-bound, gathered at the palace gates holding banners calling for the Agong to intervene and redress the problem of marginalisation of Indian students.

Besides requesting the King to set up a royal commission of inquiry on the problem, the memorandum also called for the abolition of the higher secondary school STPM examinations and their replacement with a single pre-university course for all regardless of race.

The HRP also called for a United Nations official to head the selection committee for the allocation of public service department (PSD) scholarships as well as matriculation and university placements for the next five years.

“This UN official will ensure that the allocation process is done equally,” said Uthayakumar.