A loving wife who joined her husband in a hunger strike to protest the latter being placed under Emergency Ordinance, is now in critical condition.

M Rukumani Devi, who has been on hunger strike since Wednesday evening, is unable to sit up, according to her brother-in-law, A Thirumoorthy (right on file pic).

She has been advised by a doctor to be warded in hospital immediately.

The unidentified doctor was said to have heard about the couple's hunger strike and visited them today.

Rukumani's husband, Balakrishnan Appala Naidu , is said to be in stable condition, but weak. He started his hunger strike at 8am on Wednesday.

Day 4

The couple has spent the last four days in a hut beside a road in the village of Kuala Balah in Jeli, Kelantan. A picture of the hut (pic) was faxed to malaysiakini today.

Balakrishnan is protesting a restricted residence order under the Emergency Ordinance placed on him.

The Emergency Ordinance allows authorities to detain suspected criminals without trial for two years, after which the internal security minister can decide on an extension.

The Sungai Dua Tambahan branch chairperson was charged with various offences and was said to be a leader of a triad. He has denied all charges and want to be tried in open court.

He was initially arrested in April 2004 and placed under the Emergency Ordinance. The Johor High Court ordered his release in Jan 2005, but he was rearrested ( see video here ) under the same charges when he walked out the Simpang Renggam detention centre.

PM Dept's letters

In a related development, two letters by the Prime Minister's Department dated May 12 and Nov 23, were sent to Balakrishnan and one of his relatives respectively.

In both the letters, which was faxed to malaysiakini by Thirumoorthy, the Prime Minister's private secretary Ahmad bin Yaacob acknowledge receipt of letters written by Balakrishnan.

Balakrishnan is hoping that his letters, and his present hunger strike, would draw Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's attention to his plight.

Another letter was passed by hand to Abdullah two days ago while the former was campaigning in Kelantan for the Pengkalan Pasir by-election.

However, Abdullah yesterday said he was unaware of the hunger strike.

The couple risks a slow death by dehydration and kidney failure. It is learnt that they have not taken any form of food or liquid. A senior medical practitioner contacted by malaysiakini estimated that a normal human being will die from starvation within seven days.