DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has urged former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to back a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the Memali incident to clear his name.

 

This comes after then-deputy prime minister Musa Hitam claimed security forces stormed the village in Baling, Kedah despite instructions not to shed blood, while Mahathir was still in the country.

 

"Did Mahathir countermand Musa's directive to the police to avoid violence and bloodshed in the arrest of Ibrahim Libya?

 

"If not, would he support an RCI to establish the truth as to who had countermanded Musa's directive as to cause the death of 18 people – Ibrahim Libya, 13 villagers and four policemen?" Lim said in a statement today.

 

Mahathir ( right ) was largely absolved over the deaths in the Memali incident as it was claimed he was on an official visit to China.

 

Some 400 police officers stormed the village on Nov 19, 1985 after a stand-off where villagers refused to surrender Ibrahim Libya, a religious sect leader, to the authorities who accused him of being a deviant.

 

"The RCI is necessary so as to unearth the truth about the Memali massacre to provide a 30-year closure to the families and loved ones of the 18 people who were killed.

 

"Up to now, they have been haunted by the spectre of not knowing the truth and in particular, who were responsible for the death of the 18 people in the Memali massacres of Nov 19, 1985," said Lim.

 

He added the RCI will provide closure the families of the victims including proper recompense.