Submit Memorandum at British High Comm on Batang Kali Massacre

We have submitted a copy of the Memorandum to the British High Commissioner, HE Mr. Boyd McCleary CVO this morning, 12 December 2008. Mr. James Paver, Head of Political, Economic & Public Diplomacy Section was present as well.

A delegation of about 100 representatives from Malaysian NGOs, political parties, surviving family members and the members of the Action Committee gathered in front of the British High Commission at Kuala Lumpur around 10:45am. The procession was not able to proceed as planned because the police only allowed a small group of not more than 5 persons to walk to the High Commission, with no marching and no banner / placard displaying.

At the High Commission, the police permitted us to complete the ceremony to pay respect to the victim within 10 minutes. Mourning statement was read and bouquets of white chrysanthemums were delivered at the front of the High Commission.


A delegation of 5 persons met with the High Commissioner, namely:-
1. Quek Ngee Meng, Head of Signature Campaign;
2. Mr. Leon Lu, Voluntary lawyer;
3. Mr. Michael Chong, Head of Public Services and Complaints Bureau of Malaysian Chinese Association;
4. Mr. Tian Chua, Member of Parliament, People Justice Party; and
5. Mr. Tan Chai Ho, Central Committee of MCA.

We summarised the contents of the memorandum submitted to HE Queen Elizabeth II. The High Commissioner gave an expected reply that the London FCO office is looking into this matter and he will forward our memorandum to the London office.

On our request to conduct a public inquiry to investigate this matter, the British High Commissioner seemed receptive to this idea. He was for the idea to close this issue once and for all. However, he emphasized that there must be evidence to warrant a public inquiry.

We brought to the High Commissioner attention that the investigation conducted by the British authorities was incomplete. There was no statement taken from the Malaysian eyewitnesses, nor was there any process of body exhumation and subsequent forensic examination. The High Commissioner was keen to read the sworn statements of the sole survivor and the eyewitnesses. We were more than willing to cooperate at appropriate timing and forum.

The meeting lasted for about half an hour.

We also sought help from the political parties, both MCA and People Justice Party. We hope that they can contact their counterparts in UK or via Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), where a Malaysian MP is the Chairperson, for purpose of reviving public interest over this issue in UK.

Local press was present to cover this event, but it is not easy to attract attention of the international media. BBC, Al-Jazeera and Reuters were not present despite much effort was put to invite them. AFP special write-up on the Batang Kali massacre will publish on this Sunday instead.