Group urges Ketari voters to seek govt accountability for racial clashes
A group of concerned citizens today urged voters in the upcoming Ketari by-election to send a clear message to the government that the Petaling Jaya Selatan tragedy needs accountability to improve nation-building and race relations.
A press statement signed by Charles Santiago, M Manogaran and SP Pathi said the institutions of government have failed to deliver justice to the families of the dead and injured in the tragedy on March 8 and 9 last year.
The silence of the government is worrying. It has neglected its constitutional responsibility to protect the interests of poor minorities and other vulnerable groups, said the group.
The racial clashes in which six people were killed and scores of others injured, occurred near squatter settlements in Kg Medan and the surrounding areas in Petaling Jaya Selatan.
A report from the relevant authorities on the matter is yet to be made public by Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Stumped civil society groups have resorted to requesting the Human Rights Commissions (Suhakam) help. However, despite numerous such requests made to it over the past year, Suhakam has yet to decide if it should hold an inquiry on the tragedy.
Referendum
The group of concerned citizens, who has assisted the families of those affected by the tragedy, is raising the issue during the eight-day campaign in Ketari which ends with polling on March 31.
A group of concerned citizens today urged voters in the upcoming Ketari by-election to send a clear message to the government that the Petaling Jaya Selatan tragedy needs accountability to improve nation-building and race relations.
A press statement signed by Charles Santiago, M Manogaran and SP Pathi said the institutions of government have failed to deliver justice to the families of the dead and injured in the tragedy on March 8 and 9 last year.
The silence of the government is worrying. It has neglected its constitutional responsibility to protect the interests of poor minorities and other vulnerable groups, said the group.
The racial clashes in which six people were killed and scores of others injured, occurred near squatter settlements in Kg Medan and the surrounding areas in Petaling Jaya Selatan.
A report from the relevant authorities on the matter is yet to be made public by Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Stumped civil society groups have resorted to requesting the Human Rights Commissions (Suhakam) help. However, despite numerous such requests made to it over the past year, Suhakam has yet to decide if it should hold an inquiry on the tragedy.
Referendum
The group of concerned citizens, who has assisted the families of those affected by the tragedy, is raising the issue during the eight-day campaign in Ketari which ends with polling on March 31.
The by-election will pit Barisan Nasional-Gerakans Yum Ah Ha against DAPs Choong Siew Onn. The state seat fell vacant on March 3 following the death of its state assembly representative Loke Koon Kum (BN-Gerakan).
The group also urge the voters in Ketari to ask the government to institute a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the tragedy.
If it was indeed an organised crime, who is behind this violence and why was the Indian Malaysian community targetted? Is the attack on Indians a precursor to attacks on other groups?
Why have the murderers and other assailants, at least most of them, not been identified, arrested and charged in court even after one year? the group queried.
The group said voters need to think about the God-given right to life that has been denied to the six people who died in the clashes.
They added that Ketari should be a referendum on the tragedy so that the country will not see a repeat of such clashes.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.