Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon today called on the authorities to release all Internal Security Act detainees who are in poor health on humanitarian grounds.

gerakan agm koh tsu koon pc 03.JPG "Preventive detention is a very painful ordeal and should only apply to those who pose a serious and genuine risk to public safety," he said in a statement.

Koh said Gerakan views with great concern recent reports regarding the health of ISA detainee and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar.

His fiancee S Indradevi yesterday lodged a police report on his behalf at the Brickfields district police headquarters detailing the extent of his foot injury and the threat of amputation.

"I urge the authorities to take notice of the claims of Indradevi that he was refused proper treatment and access to an orthopaedic surgeon who would be able to treat his foot injury and, if true, then serious action needs to be taken by the authorities to address this failure which may be tantamount to a violation of his basic rights.

"I have previously written to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appealing for the release of the detainees and will do so again to convey Gerakan's concern on the continued detention of Uthayakumar and other detainees who are in poor health," said Koh.

Preventive not punitive

The Gerakan president noted that the prime function of the ISA is preventive and not punitive as the country has criminal laws to deal with alleged criminal acts.

"As such it is Gerakan's stand that the ISA should only be used in situations which pose a genuine threat to national security," he said.

p uthayakumar sedition trial 030209 01 According to Indradevi, who visited Uthayakumar at the Kamunting detention centre near Taiping, the swelling of his left foot, believed to be caused by a fractured toe, is getting worse and that the toe is probably infected.

She said Uthayakumar had complained of severe pain and had subsequently been taken to the Taiping Hospital last Thursday for medical attention.

"The doctor who had examined Uthaya explained that the toe was infected but did not proceed to take X-ray of his foot. He instead asked the authorities who accompanied Uthaya to bring him back the following day for treatment.

"The doctor also said that he would refer Uthaya to an orthopaedic surgeon but although he waited for the prison authorities to take him (to the hospital), no one came and he was once again declined treatment," she told Malaysiakini .

Uthayakumar was among five Hindraf leaders who were detained in December 2007 shortly after the now outlawed movement staged a massive street protest.