The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) must reveal what steps it has taken to look into the various complaints it has received on the March racial clashes in Petaling Jaya Selatan which resulted in scores injured and six deaths.

The pro-tem secretary general of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) P Uthayakumar said today although the commission has indicated several times that it was awaiting reports on the clashes from various government departments, a recent statement by a minister had cast a different light on the matter.

"National Unity and Social Development Minister Siti Zaharah said her ministry has not received any request from Suhakam (for a report)," said Uthayakumar.

Siti Zaharah was reported on June 25 as saying that Suhakam had not requested any report on the incident from her ministry or the Welfare Department. She said her ministry has already completed its investigations into the incident.

Prim has repeatedly called on Suhakam to carry out an inquiry into the clashes to determine the causes and persons responsible for clashes which lasted for four days beginning March 8.

The clashes resulted in the death of six persons and 52 injured - almost all of them Indians. More than 600 police personnel were stationed at the affected areas to maintain order and peace for a couple of weeks.

Previous statements

Uthayakumar said that Suhakam commissioners, on two occasions, had informed Prim that they had already sought the reports and will decide on whether to hold an inquiry.

"They even specifically told us that they had written to the National Unity and Social Development Ministry for the report," he said.

He added that in the light of Siti Zaharah's revelation that Suhakam had not sought any such report, the commission must now explain its previous statements on the matter.

"We would like them to also provide the details of the letters that they had sent to the ministry for the reports," said Uthayakumar.