A citizens initiative called the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) today urged the government to formulate legislation to protect minorities in the country.

The group made the call at a function held to commemorate the first anniversary of the Petaling Jaya Selatan racial clashes which left six dead and more than 75 badly injured.

It is time that the government Minorities Protection Act and Race Relations Act to ensure justice and protection of all vulnerable minorities, GCC co-ordinator Charles Santiago said today.

Long-term resolutions to these kinds of problems need to be democratic and institutional, he said at a press conference after the function held in Kuala Lumpur today.

GCC claimed that the government had failed to act definitively since the racial clashes, which erupted in Kampung Medan and spread to surrounding neighbourhoods, a year ago.

At the height of the incident, about 600 police personnel were brought in to maintain law and order in the area. About 200 people were subsequently arrested, many of whom were later charged under the 1958 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, 1967, the Police Act and the Penal Code.

It is believed that two events — a misunderstanding between two families and a separate incident in which a boy used a slingshot to smash the windscreen of a neighbours car — sparked off the four-day long clashes.

Platform for restitution

Another GCC member, Annie Santiago, proposed that new legislation should also allow for minorities in the country to seek compensation for acts which are discriminatory.

There is no adequate protection for minorities and these legislation would provide for the protection of their culture, education as well as act against discrimination.

Those affected can bring up their grievances within a formal procedure, said Annie, a lawyer.

Another GCC co-ordinator, M Manogar, said that equality under the law as well as anti-discriminatory clauses have been provided for under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution.

These rights though, have not been given to the people in Kampung Medan, Manogar said.

Charles also echoed Manogars views saying that the government had failed to protect the rights of minorities.

The government has failed to uphold the Federal Constitution and the creation of the new legislation would give recognition to the fact that minorities are vulnerable. It would give them a good platform to debate, he said.

Asked when they would be forwarding their recommendations to the authorities, Charles said it was premature to set a date as they were still at a planning stage.

The government can balance out the situation with the passage of such laws and adjust such instances of discrimination, said another GCC co-ordinator SP Pathi.

Not fully compensated

Two victims of the racial clashes were present at the press conference to highlight their plights. One of them was 24-year-old V Vasu who had lost the use of his right hand and three fingers on his left.

I used to work in a printing firm but a group of five people attacked me during Kampung Medan and they chopped at my hands and now I cannot work anymore, he said.

He said he fell unconscious after the attack and was warded in an Intensive Care Unit for three days. He is scheduled for a fifth operation this month.

He was given a cash compensation of RM3,000 by the government, but not a house that he was promised.

Another victim S Annandurai said he was hospitalised for two weeks after some men wielding parangs attacked him during the clashes.

They chopped at my hand and my head, I still suffer from dizzy spells, said the 32-year-old former van driver who now works as a supervisor.

He said he has also received cash compensation of RM3,000 but not a house which he also was promised.