Hindraf de facto leader P Uthayakumar has challenged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to prove his sincerity in reviewing the Sedition Act by withdrawing the charges against him.

A letter to the prime minister calling for this, dated April 17 and copied to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, was sent by Uthayakumar's lawyers.

It asked that the charges be dropped "in the spirit of the (review of the Sedition Act) announcement by the prime minister".

Uthaya at hrp HQ They also appealed on the grounds that Uthayakumar ( left ) had already been punished  by being incarcerated under the ISA for a year-and-a-half.

"Proceeding further with this criminal charge may amount to double jeopardy (punishment twice for the same offence)," the letter says.

When contacted, Uthayakumar said that Najib needed "to show good faith" in his intentions to review the law, adding that it had outlived its purpose and was obsolete.

Describing Najib's proposal to review the law as admission that it was outdated, he said that it was only right that the charges against him be discontinued.

"He (Najib) may appear vindictive otherwise," he added.

Grounds for dropping charges

Referring to the three areas of the law that would remain untouched , Uthayakumar said that the charges levelled at him for "creating racial unrest or uncertainty" could not be justified.

"Since 2007 until now, no racial disharmony has been caused by (my actions)," he added.

NONE In fact, Najib ( left ) himself acknowledged the problems he had raised regarding his community by chairing the Cabinet Committee on the Indian Community, he added.

Asked if he believed Najib would actually act on his request, he said he would "give him the benefit of the doubt" and wait.

Uthayakumar was charged with publishing seditious material in 2007, and his case is still ongoing.

On Monday, Najib pledged to review the Act, which critics have slammed as being used to stitch dissenters' lips.