Prim still in the dark over racial clashes
One year has passed but the government has yet to take any positive steps in identifying the causes behind the Petaling Jaya racial clashes which left six people dead and scores injured, said a political party today.
Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar said to date there has been no royal commission, white paper or even an official police report on the clashes.
There is also no follow-up report from the government on how to evade similar incidences in the future, Uthayakumar told malaysiakini .
The victims of the clashes were also not adequately compensated and most of them are now facing financial difficulties, he added.
Prim has been championing the cause of the victims and has repeatedly called on the government to determine the causes and bring those responsible to justice.
The party has also been at loggerheads with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) for not initiating an open inquiry into the clashes, which was the worst since the 1969 racial riots
Suhakam had claimed it was still investigating the case and thus did not see it fit to have an open inquiry at this stage.
Uthayakumar said his party has submitted numerous memorandums to various ministers, including the prime minister and his deputy, asking them to initiate an inquiry into the matter and to tender adequate assistance to the victims.
The clashes, which erupted in Kampung Medan and spread to surrounding neighbourhoods, saw more than 600 police personnel being stationed at the affected areas to maintain order.
About 200 people were arrested and many of them were later charged under the 1958 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, 1967 Police Act and the Penal Code.
Unprovoked attack
The four-day clashes is said to have been sparked off by a misunderstanding between two families and another incident where a boy, using a slingshot, smashed the windscreen of his neighbours vehicle.
Uthayakumar said the government must bring the perpetrators to justice for the killing of innocent people.
Those arrested then were not charged with murder or for causing serious injuries by using a dangerous weapon.
No action was taken against the police for not being able or failing to protect the victims, he said.
The attacks were carried out by armed organised unidentified criminals against unprovoked working class citizens who were mainly Indian Malaysians. These victims are still waiting for justice to be done. There are also no proper aftercare medical assistance tendered to these victims, he said.
In continuing their campaign, Prim today attempted to submit a protest note to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi but failed to meet him.
We were met by his private secretary at the entrance of his office in Putrajaya. We are now trying to seek a fresh appointment with Abdullah for us to raise these issues, said Uthayakumar.
In their latest protest note, Prim reiterated that each victim be given a house valued at RM100,000, compensation of RM100,000 each, full medical benefits as well as education payments for their children.
The families of the six who were killed were given RM10,000 each by the government. Their funeral expenses were undertaken by MIC, which also promised them low-cost houses.
As for the others, they were given between RM2,000 to RM3,000 each. In addition, other non-governmental organisations have also provided financial assistance.
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