Probe May 13 riots, police told (Malaysiakini)

Probe May 13 riots, police told

Wednesday, 20 June 2007

Joyce Tagal and Su Hui Hsing (Malaysiakini) A lawyer has filed a police report calling for an investigation into the May 13, 1969 riots which left more than 100 dead and scores others injured. N Surendran (photo:right) lodged the report with the Brickfields police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning. The report is based on the revelation of new information pertaining to the riots in a book titled May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969 published last month. Penned by academic Dr Kua Kia Soong, the book, which is based on recently declassified documents from London, claimed that Umno played a major role in the riots. It also stated that the military and police had practiced racial favouritism during their peacekeeping efforts. In his report, Surendran urged the police to look into these alleged criminal actions by the police, military and the government, including the late former premier Tun Abdul Razak. "The parties must be implicated, brought to court and charged, no matter how old they are," he told reporters later. He said if the police failed to act, he would raised the matter with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) or even obtain a court order. 'We want justice' Accompanying him was PKR supreme council member S Manikavasagam. "Since the book is not banned, the contents must be true," said the opposition politician, who also called for a police investigation. Meanwhile, Surendran said the new information in the book was the reason behind his decision to file the police report. "For the first time, Malaysians are looking at these documents. Now it is time for the truth to come out,” he said, referring to declassified documents from the London Public Service Records office. Surendran also urged the government not to be frightened by the documents and to uphold transparency since it is a matter that affects all Malaysian citizens. "People have been speaking in whispers since 1969. This is important for nation-building. We cannot be an united nation until things like this are brought to light. “All Malaysians will be happy if they see justice done and the victims of the riots compensated, he continued. What we want is justice, justice for Malaysians,” he said.