Hindu Rights Action Force legal adviser P Uthayakumar, presently under a two-year detention under the Internal Security Act, today filed a RM100 million defamation suit against the government for linking him with a terrorist group.

In the suit which was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry in Jalan Duta, Uthayakumar also named Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail as the other two defendants.

He claimed that he had been defamed by being linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which is seeking a separate state in Sri Lanka. The United Nations had declared the LTTE as a terrorist group.

The suit was filed by Uthayakumar’s counsel M Manogar.

"Both the police chief and the attorney general have gone on record to announce that Uthayakumar is a threat to national security because of his links with terrorist organisations.

"Where is the evidence? If there is any evidence, charge Uthayakumar in the open court. Uthayakumar is claiming RM100 million for defamation," Manogar told AFP.

Uthayakumar, 46, is seeking aggravated damages, exemplary damages, an injunction to restrain the IGP and AG or their agents or servants from further publishing or causing to be published the said or any similar libel, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

In his statement of claim, he said that media statements by Musa that Hindraf had links with the terrorist group were widely reported in all the major local dailies in the country. He claimed that this had destroyed his credibility and reputation.

He claimed that Musa's statements had portrayed him as a terrorist and that he had intent to use violence to achieve his objectives in overthrowing the government.

He said he decided to file the suit after all the defendants failed to respond to his letter dated on Dec 12 last year, demanding that they retract all the allegations and apologise to him.

Seeking support and help

On Dec 6, Musa issued a press statement stating that Hindraf was trying to solicit help and support from terrorist groups.

"Of late there have been indications that Hindraf is trying to seek support and help from terrorist groups," Musa had said.

A day earlier Abdul Gani, while rejecting bail 31 Hindraf supporters who were charged for illegal assembly and attempted murder, had similarly alleged that Hindraf had links with the Tamil separatist movement LTTE.

Uthayakumar had vehemently rejected these claims then.

“Let me repeat this. We are definitely not trying to get help or support from any terrorist groups,” he had said.

Uthayakumar was arrested under the ISA on Dec 13 with four others - M Manoharan, 46, V Ganabatirau, 34, K Vasantha Kumar and R Kenghadharan, 40, - for allegedly being a threat to the security by involving in organising illegal gatherings and for alleged sedition.