ARULMARI Joseph was happy that she could serve her husband’s favourite dish for the family’s Deepavali gathering at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters today.

Her spouse, P. Gunasekaran, is being detained for alleged ties to defunct separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Gunasekaran’s daughter, Nancy told The Malaysian Insight her mother and her siblings were happy they could gather and eat as a family today.

“We were all very happy especially, my mother. She cooked my father’s favourite dish and we all ate together although it was just for two hours.”

“My dad lost weight, but overall he is okay. He looked a little bit gloomy but in the end we were happy to celebrate Deepavali together,” said Nancy.

Gunasekaran, 60, is the DAP assemblyman for Seremban Jaya in Negri Sembilan.

On October 10, he and seven others were detained for allegedly promoting LTTE idelogy.

Two days later five more men were picked up for the same offence.

Gunasekaran and four others have filed a habeas corpus to challenge their detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act last Tuesday.

Hearing has been fixed for next Thursday.

Nancy said 24 of her family members were also allowed to meet her father today.

Nancy said Bukit Aman Special Branch Counterterrorism assistant principal director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay was with her family when they met.

“At first only certain family members were allowed (to meet Gunasekaran) but we begged them and the IO (investigating officer) agreed. They were so nice to us and we would like to thank them for being so professional.

“Datuk Ayob was also in the room with my father when we came. We passed some medicines to the IO and he agreed to hand it to our father soon. My mother was the most relieved person after seeing her husband,” said Nancy.

“We hope that he and the rest can be set free this Thursday,” she added. – October 27, 2019.