ISA-detained Kota Alam Shah elected representative M Manoharan from DAP today received support from the most unlikely source - from the defeated candidate for the seat Ch'ng Su Chen and his party Gerakan.

Ch'ng and Gerakan vice-president A Kohilan Pillay - who is also deputy foreign minister - today urged Manoharan not to vacate his seat and offered to assist in serving the constituency.

manoharan and kota alam shah state seat selangor "We feel that Manoharan has been duly elected and should be given the opportunity to serve the electorate.

"It is most unfortunate that he is still being detained under ISA and we hope he will be released promptly.

"In the meantime, we are ever ready to assist (Manoharan's wife) Pushpaneela, and Ch'ng being a former elected representative can lend his experience and provide valuable insight," they said in a joint statement today.

Manoharan has expressed his intention to quit the seat after feeling frustrated for not being able to provide service for his constituents, which is now being undertaken by his wife S Pushpaneela.

She however has been forced to juggle her time in taking care of their four young children, his legal office and his constituency.

Manoharan was detained under the Internal Security Act Dec 13 in 2007 along with four other Hindraf leaders. He was a legal advisor for the movement, which has since been banned by the government.

He then contested under the DAP ticket for the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor while in custody and defeated Ch'ng by 7,184 votes.

Various appeals to the government and judicial reviews in courts to seek his freedom have been unsuccessful.

Manoharan is expected to make a final decision after meeting with DAP chairperson Karpal Singh at the Kamunting detention centre on May 19.

Release him from ISA

gerakan egm pc 270307 kohilan pillay In the statement today, Kohilan and Ch'ng said that Selangor Gerakan will be willing to play a meaningful role if requested by Pushapaneela and will do so in the interest of the people of Kota Alam Shah and Selangor.

They urged all parties to reduce the politicking and contain their emotions especially those who are aspiring to contest the seat.

"A lot has happened over the past year, and the focus must be returned to governance.

"While politics is supposed to be the science of government, but in Malaysia, it has now become a hindrance to governance because of the constant politicking and the manufacturing of by-elections.

"Selangor and Malaysia can ill afford a by-election at this time, and the focus should be returned to strengthening the economy and increasing the standard of living of all Malaysians," they added.

kota alam shah selangor state seat 300409 Kohilan and Ch'ng also called on the government to release Manoharan and all other ISA detainees who do not pose an immediate risk to the nation's security.

They also hoped that the review of the ISA will be all encompassing and will allow the courts to review every aspect of detention including substantive matters.

New Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had said that he would look into reviewing the ISA which allowed for detention without trial.

He also released 13 ISA detainees upon coming to power, which included two other Hindraf leaders.

Gerakan's decision to openly back Manoharan as an elected representative and its offer to help in the constituency will surely be seen by many in the opposition camp as an attempt by the party to avoid a by-election, something which Najib had also indicated recently.