Banning Hindraf may have dire consequences

The Government has finally chosen to exercise its wide powers under The Societies Act 1966 by banning Hindraf. The move should not come as a surprise especially after most of the founding members had earlier been detained under the Internal Security Act. It was not a matter of "should" rather "when". However Syed Hamid Albar's press release throws up a number of reasons. He cited the need to protect public order, peace, security and morality in Malaysia. He added that even the sovereignty of the country and prevailing racial harmony would be jeopardised. Banning Hindraf appears to be a desperate attempt by the government to control the impact and influence of Hindraf. Hindraf single handedly had been responsible for the demolition of the decades old Malaysian Indian Congress ( M. I. C ) in the last general election and the Indian community as come to regard it as being more attuned and thus representative of them than any other component party in the Barisan Nasional. However banning Hindraf could also have dire consequences. It would send it underground and it may resort to a more aggressive approach.