DAP officials were the only ones from Barisan Alternatif to turn up today to attend a closed-door briefing by Selangor police on the recent Petaling Jaya Selatan racial clashes.

State deputy police chief Johar Che Din, who chaired the session, commended DAP for meeting the police on the matter and said the briefing would help dispel speculations related to the tragedy.

"This sort of session will enable political parties to get a better picture of the situation and in turn help the people keep matters under control instead of listening to dangerous rumours," he said.

The 90-minute session at the contingent police headquarters in Shah Alam was attended by state police top brass while the six-member DAP delegation was led by its deputy chairperson Ahmad Nor. Keadilan and PAS who were also invited to the meeting, initiated by DAP, failed to turn up.

However, at a press conference later, both the police and DAP officials remained tightlipped about the issues raised. According to Selangor DAP vice-president, M Manoharan, who attended the briefing, revealing to the public what was discussed at the session could "incite racial tension" .

He denied that by not revealing what was discussed, DAP was wilfully withholding from the public pertinent information relating to the communal clashes.

Legal aid

Manoharan said DAP would provide legal aid to victims of the clashes, which began on March 9 and lasted several days. Six were reported killed while scores more injured.

Ahmad told reporters that the police did not refuse DAP's request to make details of their investigations into the clashes public and had also given their assurance that sufficient personnel would be deployed at the squatter settlement in Petaling Jaya Selatan to keep the situation under control.

"Their explanation cleared all our doubts," he said, adding that the meeting was "useful and fruitful". Ahmad said DAP would in future co-operate with the police.

On the issue of permits for political ceramah , Ahmad said the police requested them to write-in regarding the matter.