Eight years have passed since the Kampung Medan tragedy in Petaling Jaya, which claimed the lives of five Indian Malaysians and left 100 others injured.

But Human Rights Party (HRP) secretary-general P Uthayakumar has not forgotten the incident, which he described as the "worst human rights violation ever to happen in the country."

NONE He wants the government to at least set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to unearth what actually happened during those tense 15 days.

Uthayakumar, who was then heading the Police Watch & Human Rights Committee, has already been slapped with a sedition charge for describing the killings as equivalent to a state-sponsored ethnic cleansing and mini genocide of the Indian community.

The HRP leader however, was not looking to reopen old wounds.

He just wants a TRC to be constituted soon so that the country could finally "unearth the mystery behind the killings, bury the Kampung Medan ghost and move into a new chapter of inter-racial ties."

"TRC findings can help to correct past wrongdoings, heal wounds, prevent any future recurrence of similar incidents and breathe a new lease of life for inter-ethnic relationship," he added.

TRC was commissioned by the new South African government after the demise of the much loathed apartheid government.

President Nelson Mandela however decided not to prosecute the perpetuators.

Instead, he initiated TRC only to reveal the truth about apartheid policies and wrongdoings to the world, use its findings as a reference to prevent and eradicate future ethnic and religious based discrimination.

Najib's administration should solve the mystery

Uthayakumar called on the Putrajaya administration to emulate Johannesburg's endeavour to finally close the chapter on Kampung Medan.

NONE He said from 2001 until today, the Malaysian government had failed to heed public demand to establish a royal commission of inquiry into the matter.

He said the government never tabled the much anticipated parliamentary white paper as promised by then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration on the incident.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), despite numerous memorandums, letters and even a dismissed High Court suit, failed to carry out an in-depth inquiry into the tragedy.

NONE The suit against Suhakam undertaken by lawyer and Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan is now pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Uthayakumar said it would be ideal for the new Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak, to establish a TRC in line with his ‘1Malaysia’ motto.

"By initiating a TRC, Najib's government can finally resolve the mystery behind the killings," said Uthayakumar, who was well known for his role in the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

The former Internal Security Act detainee was also appalled that Pakatan Rakyat parties, rights groups and non-government organisations, especially Indian-based associations, have also been silent on this matter.

NONE "Although it is disappointing, but their muteness is not a surprise because the deaths involved the politically insignificant Indian minority," lamented the lawyer turned politician.

He said it was also heartbreaking to know that the families of the deceased were compensated with a low-cost flat worth RM25,000.

"A minority Indian's life is only worth a low-cost house. It exposes the government's valuation of Indians in this country," he added.