A medical examination on Internal Security Act detainee P Uthayakumar has confirmed that he is indeed suffering from a fractured toe, made worse by his overall deteriorating health.

uthayakumar hindraf taiping hospital 170209 01 The now outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader, who is also diabetic, arrived at the Taiping Hospital at 11.30am in a black van from the Kamunting Detention Centre today. Sporting a grey beard, Uthayakumar looked thin and tired but not sickly, noted several reporters at the hospital.

He was brought to the hospital under heavy escort, where he underwent an hour-long medical examination before being whisked back to Kamunting.

However, Uthayakumar, who was seen limping barefoot today, managed to inform reporters while leaving the hospital that an X-ray on his left foot confirmed the fracture, which he said he sustained after a minor mishap last week.

Uthayakumar added that doctors also ticked off detention camp wardens for forcing him to walk barefoot, instead of bringing him to hospital in a wheelchair.

uthayakumar_toe_06022009 His fianc é e S Indradevi, 37, had previously claimed that despite numerous pleas from Uthayakumar, Kamunting Detention Centre authorities had refused to allow him to undergo a medical examination at a hospital.

According to her, the swelling of his left foot was believed to be caused by a fractured toe, and was getting worse and probably infected.

She said Uthayakumar had complained of severe pain and was taken to the Taiping Hospital last Thursday for medical attention.

"The doctor who had examined Uthaya explained that the toe was infected but did not proceed to take an X-ray of his foot.

"He instead asked the authorities who accompanied Uthaya to bring him back the following day for treatment.

"The doctor also said that he would refer Uthaya to an orthopaedic surgeon but although he waited for the prison authorities to take him (to the hospital), no one came and he was once again denied treatment," she told Malaysiakini .

uthayakumar hindraf taiping hospital 170209 02 She subsequently lodged a police report on his behalf at the Brickfields district police headquarters detailing the extent of his foot injury and the threat of amputation.

Uthayakumar, 48, is among five other Hindraf leaders who were detained in December 2007 shortly after the movement staged a massive street protest.

Since then, the lawyer cum human rights activist has suffered heart problems and severe skin allergies.

Koh: Release sickly ISA detainees

Besides Uthayakumar, the others in detention are M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar.

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon has joined in the massive concern over Uthayakumar’s deteriorating health, urging the authorities to provide him with proper treatment and access to an orthopaedic surgeon who would be able to treat his foot injury.

koh tsu koon 100907 In a statement released yesterday, Koh also called for the release of all sickly ISA detainees. "I urge the authorities to release all ISA detainees who are in poor health on humanitarian grounds. Preventive detention is a very painful ordeal and should only apply to those who pose a serious and genuine risk to public safety.

"The prime function of the ISA is preventive and not punitive as we have criminal laws to deal with alleged criminal acts. As such it is Gerakan's stand that the ISA should only be used in situations which pose a genuine threat to national security," Koh added.