An alleged suicide letter left by Pengerang resident Pang Jing Rong who committed suicide together with his wife and son on the first day of 2013, indicated that the suicide is not related to the land acquisition to make way for the RM60 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project.  

According to China Press , Jing Rong’s younger brother, Mao Fong, called a press conference yesterday at Pengerang to disclose the letter found by Jing Ron’s elder daughter in a drawer in her room.

The letter dated Dec 27, four days before the tragedy, was for Mao Fong.

pengerang resident suicide 010113 01 “My beloved siblings and relatives, by the time you read this letter, I would have left. My death has nothing to do with others. Please don't be sad.

“I am exhausted. I don't have the energy to take care of both patients. Better to have a quick death than a long suffering...,” read the letter kept in an envelope.

The writer repeated at the back of the envelope that “It has nothing to do with others, don't drag them in. Too tired, too tired.”

The letter has no mention of poverty or land acquisition.

The 62-year-old Jing Rong along with his 57-year-old wife, who is a stroke patient and their son, aged 20, who suffers from Down Syndrome, were found dead in their home in Kampung Jawa, Pengerang on Jan 1 after suffocating themselves by inhaling smoke.

The reasons behind the suicide have become the talk of the town. Some speculated that it was poverty and hardship while Mao Fong and the police said it was due to the depression of taking care of the wife and son.

‘Do not politicise the issue for political agenda’

The Coalition of Pengerang NGOs leading the anti-Rapid movement, claimed that forced relocation might have been one of the reasons as the family was renting the affected land, and therefore could only receive some RM20,000 in compensation.

Johor MCA vice-chairperson Jason Teoh has demanded individuals and organisations that made the allegation to tender an open apology, and urged all quarters not to politicise the issue for political agenda.

Yesterday, Johor Pakatan Rakyat leaders including DAP’s Skudai assemblyperson Dr Boo Cheng Hau and PAS’ Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub paid their last respects to the deceased at Pengerang.

azlan Salahuddin, who will contest in Johor in the next general election, called on the government to set up a committee to investigate the reasons of the suicide, and should the land acquisition be found to play a role, Prime Minister Najib Razak and Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman should respond to it.

The RM60 billion Rapid project, jointly-developed by national oil company Petronas, Johor state government and private companies, including Dialog Group and Dutch company Royal Vopak, would eventually occupy 9,000ha of land, affecting at least 15 villages in the area at the southern tip of Johor.

The magnitude of the project will be far larger than the combined size of Petronas’ existing oil complexes in Malacca, Kerteh and Gebeng.

The mega-project aims to transform southern Johor into a refining and petrochemical centre, complementing the existing facilities on the east coast of the peninsula and in Singapore.

The local residents have launched an anti-Rapid movement since early of last year to protect their homes and the environment.