Uthayakumar complains of torture in letter to PM Najib

Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar, who is in Kajang Prison, has complained in a letter to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that he continues to be tortured under detention.

"I have been and am being tortured with mala fide (ill intentions) at the most feared and dreaded isolation lockup of Kajang Prison for 27 days, and it is to continue indefinitely," he said in the letter.

The letter was faxed to Najib's office as well as Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

"I am locked up under solitary confinement alone, 24 hours a day, not seeing sunlight or fresh air (in a) dimly lit cell," he said.

The incarcerated Hindraf leader added that he is only given one set of prison clothes.

Uthayakumar is serving time for sedition over his allegations of genocide against the Indian community in Malaysia. He is appealing the case.

The social activist was placed in solitary confinement following his earlier complaints of mistreatment when appearing in court on Sept 24.

Uthayakumar said he is now denied basic necessities such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel, blanket, pillow or even his old half-inch foam mattress.

‘Put me in hospital wing’

Uthayakumar who suffers from arthritis, diabetes and a prolapsed disc asked Najib that he be placed back in the medical wing of the prison.

"I hereby appeal that I, an ex-Internal Security Act detainee, is forthwith transferred to the hospital wing in view of my illnesses.

"Why the racial injustice when previous Malay and Chinese political leaders like Lim Guan Eng, Mahfuz Omar, Mohamad Sabu, Mathias Chang and ANwar Ibrahim were detained at the safer hospital wing?" he said.

Uthayakumar said his "punishment" for complaining to the courts also include being denied his weekly 15-minute calls to his family.

When contacted, Uthayakumar's wife said she had not heard from her husband for three weeks.

"I don't know what is happening to him," she lamented.