Shocked that he had been barred from leaving the country, a defiant former Hindraf ISA detainee M Manoharan vowed that he will defy that order.

Manoharan, who is also Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, claimed that Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar gave no reason for the latest order.

However, Khalid stated in his letter that he was "exercising his powers under Section 10" of the Internal Security Act which includes Manoharan's restriction order.

manoharan first visit to selangor state assembly building 110509 04 Manoharan, an active Hindraf leader, was conditionally released from ISA detention camp in Kamunting on May 9, which among others restricts his residence to the Klang district.

Under the restrictions he cannot move or leave for anywhere else without the written permission of the state police chief.

According to Manoharan ( right ), he had written on Sept 17 to the police for permission to depart the country.

Extremely disappionting decision

"But to my shock, I received a reply by fax on Sept 25 from Khalid, saying that my application has been rejected without any reason," said Manoharan at a press conference in Annexe building, Shah Alam today.

He added that he needs to leave for Tanzania for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference from Sept 20 to Oct 6.

"I am extremely disappointed with this decision... but I am still leaving the country on Sept 30 and attend the conference because I want to participate in this important conference," he said.

The CPA conference is an annual international event which draws state legislative assembly representatives from commonwealth countries.

Both Selangor state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim and deputy speaker Haniza Talhar will also join the conference.

To a question, Manoharan also said he has no fear and is prepared to face the consequences if actions will be taken against him.

Action against natural justice

"I am not scared, because I am leaving the country for an important purpose and not for personal reasons where I am going to participate on behalf of the state," he said, adding that he has been defying the restriction orders all this while.

"I do not follow the restrictions as they are against natural justice, but as a requirement, I still sought (their) permission (this time). But it is disgraceful for them to do this," he lashed out.

The least the police could do is to provide the reasons on "whether I am still a threat to national security", he added.

"(But) the prime minister and the home minister both had said that I am no longer a threat to national security and that was the reason they released me in the first place," he said.

Subsequently, Manoharan wrote a letter to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein criticising the police's latest action against him.

"But until now, I have yet to receive a reply from him," he said.

Meanwhile, Teng also lashed out at the police, an urged Hishammuddin to immediately withdraw the decision.

"It would be a scandal if elected reps are not allowed to attend the CPA meeting which has been held for 55 years.

"If the police and government prohibit Manoharan, I will ensure this will be a topic discussed in Tanzania and let's put Malaysia on international headlines for all the wrong reasons," he said.