Veteran opposition legislator Karpal Singh has urged the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to explain what it meant by "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide".

He said it is important for the organisation to explain what it meant by the terms as they appear in the petition to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

"If it is true that ethnic cleansing is being carried out in Malaysia, the matter must be reported to the United Nations," he told reporters in Parliament lobby today.

Karpal, who is the DAP chairperson and MP for Bukit Gelugor was of the view that there is no ethnic cleansing in the country.

"To my mind, there is no ethnic cleansing and genocide as universally understood (in Malaysia), unless there is a different interpretation put to these phrases by Hindraf," he said.

Going too far

Asked to comment on Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar's interpretation of ethnic cleansing in his interview with Malaysiakini, he said: "Ethnic cleansing and genocide is universally understood. It means the elimination of a particular race or community. They have to go by the definition of these words in the dictionary."

"To say that there is ethnic cleansing and genocide in the country is going a bit too far. Because I don't think there is a basis to it," he said, adding that he did not think Uthayakumar's explanation is tenable.

In the interview, Uthayakumar said his interpretation of "ethnic cleansing" is the relocation of Hindu temples next to sewerage ponds.

"(The Umno-led government) insults Hindu temples by relocating them next to sewerage ponds. Really demeaning, really insulting. If you don't call that ethnic cleansing, then what is? They are insulting us saying, 'that's where you belong'," he said.

Karpal, however, said the move by Hindraf to highlight the plight of Indians in the country is "praiseworthy".

He said there is no doubt that the Indians in the country have been marginalised and something ought to be done about it

"The rally by Hindraf was on line with the right to assembly guaranteed under the Article 10 of the Federal Constitution," he said.

"Now we must make it clear that the violence used was by the police, and not by those who participated in the rally," he said, adding that there should be an inquiry to establish who was responsible for the violence which erupted.

"Its important to get to the root of it so that the public can get a proper perspective of what happened at the rally."