FORMER DPM MUSA REITERATES SUPPORT FOR MEMALI RCI
It should be carried out after GE14 so that it won’t be rushed, says Musa
FORMER deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam welcomes the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the Memali incident, but reiterated that it should be carried out only after the 14th General Election.
This came after the latest statement by Kedah Pas deputy commissioner Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on Monday, calling for the formation of an RCI to be accelerated to uncover the truth behind the bloody incident in 1985.
“I am on record to have said that I have no problem and indeed would welcome the formation of an RCI on Memali.
“Provided, as I said, that it would be carried out after the general election.
“Otherwise, it would be such an injustice to those who sacrificed their lives, including members of the police force, if the RCI is set up and concluded hurriedly merely to win votes in the forthcoming election,” he said in a text message to the New Straits Times yesterday.
Musa, who served as deputy prime minister from 1981 to 1986, was responding to a request for comments on the call by Sanusi, which came two days after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had pinned the blame for the incident on Pas, allegedly over its denouncement of those who did not join the Islamic party as “infidels”.
This was not the first time Musa wanted an RCI to be formed after the election.
In August, he issued a similar statement, saying he did not want the Memali issue to be abused for a political agenda and used to fish for votes.
The Memali incident, which happened on Nov 19, 1985, in Baling, Kedah, saw four policemen and 14 civilians killed.
The civilians, who were villagers, were shot by police when they tried to protect religious teacher Ibrahim Mahmud, better known as Ibrahim Libya, from being arrested.
Ibrahim, who was a local Pas leader, was killed in the incident.
It was reported that police had wanted to arrest Ibrahim under the now-repealed Internal Security Act for allegedly spreading deviant teachings.
Pas had denied the allegation.
Meanwhile, family members of the victims supported the formation of an RCI.
Mohd Zuhdi Mat Piah, 33, said it was the right time to establish an RCI as there were those who might have answers on the incident, such as Dr Mahathir.
“Musa, who had claimed that Dr Mahathir was in Kuala Lumpur when the incident happened and not in China as told, is also still alive,” he said when contacted by Berita Harian yesterday.