The police should not investigate the Dewan Tunku Canselor (DTC) fire simply to disprove the report that the cause of the fire was due to faulty wiring and not arson, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said today.

"Is the police investigating to disprove the Fire and Rescue Department finding that the probable cause of the fire was a short-circuit and not arson by militant student activists (as some quarters had claimed)?" asked Lim.

He was referring to news reports today stating that the police required more time to complete their investigation into the June 29 pre-dawn fire which incurred losses of more than RM12 million.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Meor Che Hussin Mahayuddin was reported as saying that the police had so far interviewed 33 people including students, university staff and lecturers, and were awaiting final reports from relevant authorities like the Fire and Rescue Department, Tenaga Nasional and the Chemistry Department.

Yesterday, Malay daily Berita Harian reported that the Fire and Rescue Department identified the cause of the fire to be an old wiring system and increased electricity usage in the 40-year hall.

However, this was denied by Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister M Kayveas who said that fire department had not issued any statements pertaining to its investigation.

Earlier this week, the Malay Mail daily also reported from sources within the department that a short-circuit was the probable cause of the fire.

The Fire and Rescue department had submitted their investigations to the Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting yesterday and the minister is expected to present it to the Cabinet soon.

'Militant students'

Following the fire, many politicians, mostly from Umno, blamed 'militant students' for torching DTC as a sign of protest against the government.

Lim said that following the Fire Department's findings, all "trigger-happy" politicians must apologise for their baseless aspersions.

"The government should also not regard every student who is critical of the government as a traitor. It must concede that such criticisms stem from the highest form of idealism and love for the country," said Lim, adding that "such things should be fully respected and given space for expression."