[via malaysiakini.com]
Rahmah Ghazali | Jul 14, 08 8:25pm

The Immigration Department did not revoke Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy's passport although it had received an instruction to do so, said Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri today.

He also denied that the government had called for the monitoring of Waythamoorthy’s activities abroad. The Hindraf leader is currently in self-imposed exile in London.

Abdul Rahim was responding to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) who asked whether the Malaysian government had asked the British government to keep an eye on Waythamoorthy.

In May, the Hindraf leader was informed by British immigration officers that Kuala Lumpur had revoked his passport but this was denied by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Abdul Rahim said that Waythamoorthy still holds a Malaysian passport overseas and can still utilise it.

'We welcome him back'

The deputy minister also said that the government welcomes Waythamoorthy back, which was why his passport was not cancelled.

"At least (if he comes back), (he) can answer (and help) our authorities and ... see if there is any case for him to be arrested."

The deputy minister was responding to a supplementary question from Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) who asked if the government would arrest Waythamorthy under the Internal Security Act if he returns.

He also explained that the five Hindraf leaders were detained under the ISA last December as a preventive measure.

The five were held shortly after organising a mammoth rally which saw some 30,000 people taking to the streets.

While Hindraf claims to be fighting for the rights of the Indian Malaysian community, the government however has classified them as an extremist outfit.