The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said today that it had requested and was still awaiting for a report prepared by the National Unity and Social Development ministry on the recent racial clashes in Petaling Jaya Selatan before deciding its next course of action on various complaints made to it on the matter.

Suhakam deputy chairperson Harun Hashim, told malaysiakini that a letter had already been sent to the minister Siti Zaharah Sulaiman requesting the report.

"We have sent a letter to the minister to obtain the report, however I cannot remember when we sent it,' he said.

"She (Siti Zaharah) must have been busy and might not have been able to look at the letter," Harun added.

He also said that the Commission 'would be doing something soon' with regards to investigating the Petaling Jaya Selatan clashes. However Harun did not specify a date or what action would be taken.

He was commenting on Siti Zaharah's statement last Monday that her ministry has not received any letter from the Commission requesting reports on the Petaling Jaya Selatan clashes.

Sensitive matter

Another Suhakam Commissioner, Prof Hamdan Adnan confirmed that the commission had sent a letter to the National Unity and Social Development ministry.

He also added that the Commission will soon investigate the clashes which occurred in March and saw the death of six people and scores injured.

"But I cannot confirm if there will be an open inquiry into this matter ... this is due to its sensitive nature," he said.

Last Thursday, malaysiakini reported that the pro-tem secretary-general of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim), P Uthayakumar, had lambasted the Commission for 'inaction in carrying an inquiry into the racial clashes.

He said that while Suhakam commissioners had stated that they were awaiting reports from the ministry, Siti Zaharah had said that her ministry had not received any such request from the Commission.

Uthayakumar said that Suhakam commissioners, on two occasions, had informed Prim that they had already requested the reports and would decide on whether to hold an inquiry after studying them.

Prim has repeatedly called on Suhakam to carry out an inquiry into the clashes to determine the causes and persons responsible for clashes which lasted for four days beginning March 8.

Kamunting visit

On another matter, Suhakam commissioner Anuar Zainal Abidin confirmed that the Commission will be visiting the Kamunting detention centre in Perak tomorrow to look into the conditions of the detainees and the centre.

The visit will be made by commissioners Hamdan, Mehrun Siraj, Simon Sipaun and Zainah Anwar, he added.

Last Monday, the wives and representatives of five Keadilan leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) sent in a memorandum stating that the five had been mistreated at the detention centre.

The five are Keadilan vice president Tian Chua, youth leader Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, party leaders Saari Sungib , Lokmar Noor Adam and Dr Badrul Amin Bahron and social activist-cum-malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

They were arrested under the ISA in April for allegedly trying to overthrow the government as part of a 'militant plot'.

On a memorandum sent by the Malaysian Shia Action Committee stating that detaining Shia followers under ISA was a gross violation of human rights and contravened Article 11 of the Federal Constitution that guarantees the freedom of religion, Anuar said that Suhakam would be contacting the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) on the matter.