Prim still wants inquiry into PJ Selatan clashes

comments     Leong Kar Yen     Published     Updated

Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia today called on the government to present a white paper on the Petaling Jaya Selatan clashes which claimed six lives and injured 52 in March last year.

"The government has failed in calling for a royal commission of inquiry or coming out with a white paper or any kind of detailed explanation in Parliament even though it was one of the severest racial clashes in the history of Malaysia," said P Uthayakumar, Prim's pro-tem secretary-general.

"Even though the injuries of the victims have healed but the scars will not disappear completely and will remain as black marks," he added in his statement.

The clashes spread over several areas that include Taman Datuk Harun, Kampung Lindungan, Kampung Medan, Taman Medan, Kampung Penaga, Kampung Ghandi and Kampung Muniandy where the population is dominated by Malay and Indian Malaysians and migrants from Indonesia and Bangladesh.

The residents are largely from the lower-income group; most are factory workers and petty business owners.

Empty promises

Uthayakumar also lambasted MIC for not keeping its promises to the affected residents.

"The victims were promised by the MIC that they would be given low-cost housing 'for free', but none of the promises were kept. The lack of financial assistance was disappointing and not in consonance with the publicity generated by the MIC.

"Nevertheless it is not the responsibility of the MIC but rather the responsibility of the government to help the victims," he said.

He added that many victims of the tragedy have been debilitated and do not have any source of income.

"In the name of justice and the rights of victims, we appeal to the government to offer them help and compensation," Uthayakumar said.

He also rebuked the Human Rights Commission for remaining 'stubborn' in not setting up an inquiry into the clashes.



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