A scheduled handing over of a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on the M Moorthy case turned 'racial' when representatives of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth refused to submit it to the attending commissioner.

PKR Youth vice-president S Manikavasagam (photo, right), claiming to submit the document on behalf of Moorthy's family, insisted at the end of a briefing session this afternoon that the protest and demands should be received by a non-Indian commissioner.

He also demanded that N Siva Subramaniam, who was present with several Suhakam officers, should offer a public apology to Moorthy's family and all Indian Malaysians.

During the briefing, Manikavasagam chided Siva for having made 'insensitive' remarks on Dec 29 by advising Moorthy's family to respect Malaysia's laws and move on.

The former teacher and trade unionist has since responded to the report in a letter to malaysiakini.

"Yesterday, we met Moorthy's wife (S Kaliammal), the family and lawyers at the 16th day prayers (a Hindu rite following a death). They were all very upset with your statement," he told Siva (photo), who sat quietly till the end.

"We do respect the laws of Malaysia but we are here to seek justice. There are too many cases involving the Indian community that have gone unheard and unresolved. Look at the Kampung Medan incident. When it happened, the community did not take to the streets to protest. But enough is enough."

Manikavasagam said PKR Youth had similarly refused to hand over a memorandum on custodial deaths to an Indian Malaysian police officer at Bukit Aman.

"We don't want to submit this to any Indian commissioner. Suhakam has so many commissioners, why can't someone else be here to receive this? This is not an Indian issue. It is a national issue."

Wife's letter

Reading out a summary of Moorthy's case, he said Kaliammal had been informed for the first time on Dec 1 about her husband's conversion by "one Major Shukri" who told her that his body would be claimed for a Muslim burial.

"(She) also said that if at all Moorthy had converted, it was not of his own free will. Since 1998 when he became paralysed, Moorthy was always ill and had lost his powers of concentration."

Attached to the memorandum was a copy of a letter dated purportedly written by Kaliammal raising the issue of forced conversion to Islam. She has consistently said that her late husband had never told her about his conversion.

In the letter, she described her shock on being informed by a group of religious teachers from the military religious corp that her husband had converted to Islam, and that his body would be buried according to Muslim rites in the event of his death.

The letter bore acknowledgment stamps dated Dec 19 of the Special Forces Department in the Defence Ministry, Converts' Unit in the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department and Armed Forces religious corp.

Perception check

Later explaining PKR Youth's insistence on a non-Indian commissioner, Bukit Bintang division deputy chief S Pushpalingam said it was mainly to avoid public perception that this was an Indian issue.

"We don't want people to think that one Indian is covering up for another or that only Indians can hear the grouses of other Indians. This is why we prefer to have a non-Indian handling this matter."

However, Manikavasagam apologised to Siva at the conclusion of the briefing without explaining his about-turn.

"I'm sorry for my earlier statement. We will definitely be submitting the memorandum tomorrow morning but to a non-Indian commissioner. It is important to make this point."

Siva left the room without saying anything.

Asked why PKR Youth had called the press if they had no intention of handing over the document, Manikavasagam said Suhakam had informed him that Complaints and Inquiries Working Group chairperson Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan will be present but had changed commissioners at the last minute.