Suhakam's slow response to initiating an inquiry into the clashes in Kampung Medan would tarnish the image of the human rights body, an opposition leader said.

"Suhakam should realise that its inability or failure to act on the numerous complaints of human rights violations in the Kampung Medan tragedy will be a major blot on its record to protect and promote human rights," said DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang.

The ethnic clashes, which lasted for four days beginning March 8, was concentrated along several squatter settlements and low-cost housing areas in Petaling Jaya.

The Kampung Medan tragedy was the worst ethnic clash in 30 years, resulting in six people being killed and 78 others severely injured.

Lim also called on Suhakam to carry out an inquiry as soon as possible or announce reasons as to why it cannot do so.

"It should come out with a clear and satisfactory statement as to why it could not do so and what it had done about the numerous complaints of human rights violations on this issue for the past five months," he said.

Statutory responsibility

"Suhakam must deal with the human rights abuses in keeping with its statutory responsibility to protect and promote human rights unless Suhakam could declare that no human rights abuses and violations has occurred in the tragedy," Lim added.

Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar has also made similar calls to the 16-month-old body, adding that it might proceed with a legal suit to compel Suhakam to carry out an inquiry.

According to Lim, an inquiry into the Kampung Medan clashes could be used to sensitise the government and authorities to human rights issues.

"This is an occasion for Suhakam to sensitise the various government authorities to the need to be ever conscious of the human rights dimension in all aspects of their discharge of duties," he said.