In a shocking move that could hamper Pakatan Rakyat campaign in the run-up to the by-elections next Tuesday, some Hindraf supporters have shown support to the new Najib Razak government following the ISA release.

An indication for support of Najib was detected when a cousin of one of the Hindraf leaders - T Vasanthakumar, who is still in detention - revealed that the detainee would support BN and campaign for the ruling coalition if he is released.

“I have spoken to him (Vasanthakumar) and he said he wanted to support BN if he is freed soon. This is our demand. If he is released, we all will support BN,” said A Latha to reporters outside the Kamunting Detention Camp near Taiping.

It is however uncertain whether the unexpected support thrown to BN was because PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had failed to pick Kedah-born Vasanthakumar as their candidate in Tuesday's Bukit Selambau by-election.

Later in the day, the crowd began to swell to about 100 people outside the detention centre, causing a minor traffic congestion and two trucks from the police light strike force were deployed at the scene to control the situation.

Some supporters began chanting in Tamil in support of Najib as they lauded his “bold” move.

13 isa detainees released 050409 c ganesa 02 C Ganesa from Selama, who had been growing his beard since the arrests of the Hindraf five on Dec 13, 2007, decided to shave it off in front of the camp to show his "gratefulness" to Najib.

“I’ve been keeping this beard since they (Hindraf leaders) were detained two years ago. Now since two of them are being released, I am shaving it off.

“If Najib releases the other three, I will shave my entire head... and I believe they will be released before the by-election (on April 7). We would like to say thank Najib as this is a very bold move,” said the contractor.

Hindraf will 'always reject BN'

But for V Papparaidu, the brother of V Ganabatirau, today's release of his brother and R Kenghadharan - both of whom are lawyers - will have no affect on Hindraf’s principles.

"What they have done to the Hindraf leaders for the past one and a half years could not be erased. We will continue to reject BN,” he said.

hindraf isa detainee r kenghadharan and v ganabatirau released 060409 In a obvious jovial mood, the wives of both former detainees, along with their relatives and friends, waited anxiously for their husbands to return back into their lives.

For 41-year-old Kengadharan’s wife Dr M Kalaivani, she said she looked forward the most to bringing his husband to a temple and pray.

“I am very happy that my husband is coming home today. I was thinking of bringing him to the temple on the way home, but since we will be escorted by the police, we will only do it after we get home,” said the mother of two.

She further added that the her husband was very upset that the other three Hindraf detainees had yet to be released.

Ganabatirau’s wife, 33-year-old B Buwaneswary, said her husband would not change his principles over what had befallen upon him when he was detained in late 2007.

“My husband does not waver his principles. He has not weakened in what he believes in as he is an honest man. I will support him in anything he wants to do,” she said.