ABDULLAH EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT OVER HINDRAF STIR AT RAYA OPEN HOUSE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today
expressed disappointment over the commotion caused by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters at the Hari Raya open house at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on Oct 1.

However, the prime minister said, there was no plan as of now to take stern
action against them.

Abdullah said the Hindraf supporters were permitted to attend the open
house, held by him and other Muslim Cabinet ministers, in the spirit of Hari
Raya.

"Only one of them said 'Selamat Hari Raya' (greetings) to me. The rest
said
'Abolish ISA' (Internal Security Act) and 'Free the Hindraf Leaders'," he
said. Five Hindraf leaders, R. Kengadharan, M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, P.
Uthayakumar and K. Vasantha Kumar, are being detained under the ISA.

The prime minister said the behaviour of the Hindraf supporters reflected
that they lacked the spirit of Hari Raya, a national festival in which every
citizen participated.

Abdullah said the Hari Raya open house was held annually and there had
been no problem or commotion all these years.

Asked what the police did during the commotion, he said the police
monitored the situation and prohibited the Hindraf supporters from attending the
open house.

"It was I who allowed them to attend, in the spirit of Hari Raya," he
said.

The prime minister said he believed that the open house was for everyone
and that no one should be prohibited from attending it.

"Why should I prevent any Malaysian group from coming to the open house.
Even non-Malaysians came in huge numbers," he said.