A group of concerned citizens today urged the government not to abandon the victims of the recent Petaling Jaya Selatan racial clashes and to make good their promises of providing adequate housing and compensation.

Spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) Charles Santiago said that society could only provide a temporary relief owing to its limited resources.

"The seriously injured and their dependents are victims of a tragic and extraordinary circumstance and the government must bear full responsibility for their welfare and well-being," said Santiago at a press conference held on behalf of the victims in Kuala Lumpur today.

Today is the 100th day anniversary of the clashes which killed six Indians and injured more than 40. To date, the government has yet to provide an official explanation of the incident. Police investigations into the clashes have also yet to be made public.

Some 300 were arrested for violence during and after the clashes with several groups of them being charged in court.

Parti Rakyat Insan Malaysia (Prim) recently claimed that the incident was not racial clashes as reported by 'planned, brutal attacks on the members of a community'. The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), which has been approached to start an inquiry into the clashes, has so far not made any decision yet on the matter.

Police are still monitoring the area, comprising squatters and low-cost housing, with police road blocks at several locations in at least six settlements.

Cash donation

Santiago expressed his disappointment in the police investigation on the clashes.

"Thus far only three people have been charged with murder. The police must speed up its investigation and make public the progress achieved so far," he said.

He added that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had stated in March that the police report on the violence would be made public.

"The promise is yet to be fulfilled. We are also disappointed that no formal inquiry by Suhakam has been conducted," he said.

Santiago also said that similar occurrences should be prevented from happening.

"It is imperative for the government to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of a similar tragedy in Malaysia ever again," he said.

GCC is a group of 10 volunteers who have been helping the victims of the clashes. The group networks with other civil society groups in order to extend financial assistance to the victims.

Today, the group handed over RM500 each as temporary relief to 20 victims. Last week, the Damansara Rotary Club had given RM3,000 to five families.

Basic amenities

Santiago said the GCC wanted the Welfare Department to provide special training for the victims who lost their limbs in order for them to find alternative employment.

He added that the department should also pay a fixed monthly sum of RM1,500 to the victims as all the affected families have lost male members who were breadwinners with incomes ranging from RM500 to RM1,000 per month.

Santiago said since early March a number of improvements had been undertaken at the area of the clashes including tarred roads, new street lights installed and the setting-up of police beat bases.

"However, core issues like providing adequate housing and other basic amenities are yet to be addressed," he said.