Abdullah is not carrying out his duties as Home Minister by making statements asking the media to obtain confirmation and facts on the clashes in Jalan Klang Lama from only the police, as he did earlier today, when his job is to go personally to the clash scenes to end the ongoing clashes in the troubled housing settlements despite the heavy police presence in the area.
It is most tragic that despite assurances by the authorities about "isolated incidents" and that "the situation is under control" in the various housing settlements off Jalan Klang Lama which were the scene of violent clashes involving some 200 people leading to deaths and many seriously injured, the situation remained that of a boiling cauldron with continuing clashes and incidents with serious casualties yesterday and today.
Abdullah should lead a Cabinet task force to Kampung Lindungan, Taman Lindungan Jaya, Kampong Gandhi, Kampung Datuk Harun and the other troubled housing settlements to end the incidents and clashes, set up goodwill committees and actively restore inter-racial peace and understanding - which cannot be achieved by mere police presence.
Abdullah should put his leadership qualities as Home Minister to the test by ensuring that there will not be further clashes or incidents or any casualty in the troubled settlements.
This is the first and immediate task before a full inquiry should be held as to why the volatile situation in the troubled housing settlements was allowed to boil over into violent clashes without firm action by the authorities to defuse the explosive situation involving the Malays and Indians - and the urgent need for a package of economic programme to break the back of poverty and social backwackness in the area which had spawned the explosive and volatile situation.
(10/3/2001)