The Hindu Rights Action Forced (Hindraf) manipulated innocent Indian Malaysians to further the interests of certain quarters, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament today, Johari said he was "very confident that the organisers had bad intentions in calling for the gathering."

"We must see what had attracted thousands of Indians to gather on Sunday. They were there because they were given false hopes by the organisers.

"These people go to the rural areas and lure people by saying that they will get money, and of course the people will attend the gathering because they were tempted with money," he said.

Referring to Hindraf's class-action suit against the British government, Johari stressed: "It is impossible for the British government to grant the quantum being sought by them."

The deputy minister also pointed out that the protesters "did not come in peace" and warned that the government would not hesitate to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those responsible.

"Even if they are from political parties, be it opposition or Barisan Nasional, we will take stern action against them," he added.

Yesterday's protest saw some 30,000 people taking to the streets to support the submission of a petition to the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

Wasted effort

Johari said the effort to organise the rally had gone to waste as the organisers did not submit the petition as planned.

"When they said they wanted to only submit a petition, we advised them not to call for a gathering. We told them that they could go in a group of 10 or 20 to do so.

"However, even though no permit was given for the gathering, people still came and the situation became violent," he said.

"The crowd did not go away even after we used water cannons and tear gas. We did not want to go to the next step, to use body contact like batons and shields. Thus, we called the organisers and negotiated that a few of them could go to submit the petition.

"However, they refused to do so halfway through the procession. That is clear that all their efforts have gone to waste," he added.

Millions lost

Johari also questioned Hindraf's rationale in submitting a petition to the British government and not the Malaysian government.

He said they should have submitted the petition to the Malaysian government which would look into their qualms and requests.

Johari also explained the reasons as to why the government refused to grant a permit for the gathering.

"We felt that they have manipulated the public, and that the gathering could jeopardise peace," he said, adding that the gathering caused losses to many quarters.

"The government recorded losses amounting to millions of Ringgit. We had to put up roadblocks and monitor the movement of those involved," he said, adding that ordinary Malaysians like businessmen also faced losses because of the "stubbornness of Hindraf".

Asked why the government practised double standards in granting permits, Johari said permits are granted for gatherings that benefit the public and not to those which threaten peace.

On why the police provided a permit for a rally led by Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin and not to others, Johari said he had to check the reports before commenting on that.