The Malaysian government says it has strong evidence that led it to conduct investigations against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) based on intelligence carried out over a long period, but allegations the Pakatan Harapan coalition member Democratic Action Party has links with the terror organisation is shaking the coalition.
Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said police intelligence showed there is strong evidence of terrorism or the possibility of terrorism from the LTTE group in Malaysia.
Malaysian police arrested several people it suspects has links with the Sri Lankan terror group, including DAP members in Malacca.
However, Muhyiddin says the police are acting based on intelligence indicating elements of terrorism or possible terrorism in the probe into LTTE in the country.
TISG published a video showing a Malaysian speaking in Malay defending his ‘right’ to support the LTTE in Malaysia and saying the LTTE is a group that defends the Tamils.
The group says it will give support to Israel for example, if Malaysia did not rescind diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka where the LTTE originated and was defeated in a military struggle that lasted for several decades.
But there are allegations that DAP vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran supports the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and there are links to the Tanjung Piai by-election in Johor.
He says his party has been smeared yet again with similar allegations just as a by-election draws near.
Kulasegaran, who is also human resources minister, denied allegations that he is linked to the LTTE and called on police to investigate such fake news.
“Bukit Aman has taken action against the spread of fake news and must do so here as well,” he said.
On Thursday, police detained seven individuals, including DAP’s Gadek assemblyperson G Saminathan and Seremban Jaya assemblyperson P Gunasekaran. They are suspected to have links to the LTTE.
But Kulasegaran said if there was credible evidence against Saminathan and Gunasekaran, they should be charged in court without delay.
The two DAP members are being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) which allows for 28 days of detention without trial.
Nevertheless, the opposition Indian party the Malaysian Indian Congress said if there was strong evidence that those arrested were involved in terrorist activities, they must be charged in court.
MIC president SA Vigneswaran also said Malaysians of Indian origin only showed sympathy to the Tamil population in Sri Lanka where there were anti-Tamil policies, killings and other abuses towards the community there.
He said Tamils around the world held vigils and prayed for the people in Sri Lanka and this does not mean they were members of the LTTE.
The LTTE had also been branded a terrorist organisation by several foreign countries and was disbanded in 2009 after the group was defeated and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed, marking the end of the Sri Lankan civil war.
In the video from Malaysia, the supporter of the LTTE is heard praising the LTTE and its leader, Prabhakaran.
He also said, “we are just showing support for the LTTE what will happen if we declare our love for the LTTE and for Prabhakaran?”
He then ‘warned’ the Malaysian police not to interfere or stop their activities in Malaysia.
However, the Minister of Home Affairs said the country had to nip in the bud LTTE activities and take stern action to safeguard the country’s security.
“I hope all parties understand as we want to ensure the country is peaceful as the elements of terrorism is not dependent on the question of race, if there are Daesh among Malays and Muslims, we will also take action,” he said. -/TISG