A report on the Petaling Jaya Selatan racial clashes, which had been submitted to the Cabinet on April 25, will not be made public, said the National Unity and Social Development Ministry today.

The ministry said this in a written reply to a July 19 question by DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok in Parliament on whether the ministry would reveal the document to the public.

In an immediate reaction, Kok told malaysiakini that she was "utterly disappointed" that the report would now be classified as state secrets.

"What is there to hide? Keeping the report secret will only create more doubts as to the actual casualties of the tragedy," she said.

"Is the government keeping the report away from the public because the results of the findings might implicate certain quarters or prove that certain rumours and accusations at the government are true?" she queried.

Aid for victims

The statement from Unity and Social Development Ministry also said that the federal government has approved RM260,000 for the victims of the clashes.

"RM10,000 will be given to the families or beneficiary of the those who died and RM2,000 to RM3,000 will be given directly to those who injured," it said.

It added that the government handed a total of RM163,000 to 47 victims of the clashes on July 6.

The violent clashes, which lasted for four days in Petaling Jaya Selatan beginning of March 8, resulted in six deaths and 52 people injured - almost all of them Indians.

The police arrested about 220 people who were believed to be involved in the clashes. Some have been brought to the courts to be charged. Most claimed trial to offences under the 1958 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, 1967 Police Act and the Penal Code.

The National Unity and Social Development Ministry statement also said that the Welfare Department was in the process of locating another 37 families who were victims in the clashes.

""We had difficulties looking for them because some of them have moved out and some of their addresses provided by the hospital were incorrect," said the ministry.

"However, once there are located, the Welfare Department will hand over the funds allocated to them."

The ministry also said that for those who were incapacitated or unable to work for a living, a monthly subsistence will be provided under a financial assistance scheme under the Welfare Department.

In addition, those interested in pursuing formal vocational studies to enhance their career opportunities will be offered to do courses in the fields of computer, electrical or electronics at the Rehabilitation and Industrial Training Centre in Bangi, Selangor.