(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): DAP welcomes the posthumous "double promotion" for commando Mathew Medan who was killed in the Al Ma’unah arms heists and hostage-taking and standoff in Bukit Jenalik, Perak last month.
The posthumous "double promotion" of Mathew to Korporal was announced by the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday when he visited the dead soldier’s father Medan Nunying at his longhouse at Nanga Tada, Kanowit in Sarawak.
I am glad that the armed services had acted so promptly on my public call two weeks ago on August 3 for posthumous "double promotion" for Mathew and police detective S. Sagadevan as full national recognition for their sacrifices in the Al-Ma’unah arms heists and hostage killings.
It is now for the police to act promptly to award a posthumous "double promotion" to Sagadevan, which should be done latest by before the National Day at the end of the month. The Home Minister, Datuk Abdullah Badawi, should give personal attention to this matter.
On National Day at the end of the month, both Mathew and Sagadevan should be bestowed with national honours by the Yang di Pertuan Agong for their sacrifices.
However, what is most important and uppermost in the minds of the two bereaved families is not posthumous "double promotions", national honours or monetary contributions, but that full justice is done in the inhumane killing of Mathew and Sagadevan.
It is a great disappointment to the families of both Mathew and Sagadevan that nobody has been charged for the murder of their loved ones.
Najib’s assurance in Sarawak yesterday that those responsible
for his son’s death have been charged under Section 121 of the Penal Code
for "waging war against His Majesty’s Government" is no comfort
either to Mathew’s father, Medan or Sagadevan’s widow, Maligga who want
those responsible for killing their loved ones to be charged with the capital
offence of murder.
The Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah should personally visit
the families of Medan and Maligga to explain why he has chosen to invoke
only section 121 of the Penal Code on waging war against
the Yang di Pertuan Agong carries the dealth penalty or life imprisonment
and fine and not other criminal charges, like murder, armed robbery,
kidnapping, attempted murder, attempted robbery and firearms offences under
the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act some of which carry the mandatory
death sentence.
(19/8/2000)