I am concerned that the government has not given the fullest attention to ensure that the needs of the families of Sagadevan and Mathew are taken care of.
For instance, when DAP leaders and I visited the family of Sagadevan in Kuala Kangsar on July 23, 2000, the two greatest concerns of S. Maligga, widow of slain police detective, were getting justice for her husband and the educational future of her five children.
The delay in bringing the 27 Al-Ma’unah members arrested in Bukit Jenalik for the arms heists and hostage-taking and killings, and their arrest under the Internal Security Act, cannot be welcomed by the families of Sagadevan and Mathew who want justice to be done.
After the Kuala Kangsar visit, I had urged the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, both of whom had visited Maligga, to allay her worries and direct immediate action by the government to bear full education costs including tertiary level for Segadevan’s children as national recognition of the sacrifice of the slain police detective.
This the least the government could do in appreciation of Segadevan’s
sacrifice by ensuring that the slain detective’s offsprings are given the
best educational opportunities that they are capable of, and the government
should set up a committee or appoint a special officer to be responsible
for the welfare of Segadevan’s family, in particular to look after all
the education needs of his five
children.
I propose making a second visit on Maligga and her children in Kuala Kangsar on Saturday to find out what concrete arrangements have been made by the government for the educational needs of Segadevan’s children.
(3/8/2000)