'l'll explain in court,' - Jeyakumar on Hat Yai peace accord memorial

PSM chairperson Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj has completed an interrogation at the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters today over his attendance at a function in Kajang on Dec 1 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hat Yai Peace Agreement.

The former Sungai Siput lawmaker told Malaysiakini that he gave an hour-long testimony to Bukit Aman's Class D5 Criminal Investigation Unit at 12.30pm today, yet declined to give them any specific answers, saying he would reserve his responses for court.

Jeyakumar (above, centre) said that in his speech during the commemoration he had only expressed his appreciation for the motives of the struggle of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) for justice but expressively denied that the struggle of the present day was to use weapons as the CPM had done in the past.

"We must continue the fight for justice, but not in the way of the communist struggle with firearms," he said at Bukit Aman today, quoting his speech at the event.

Jeyakumar further stated that although the country has been independent for 60 years, the issue of minimum wage had yet to be settled fairly and he hopes that justice can be given to everyone.

"This (violent struggle) is speculation that other people have made. Someone is trying to make it look like an issue.

"(Though) there was no issue in the assembly, I did not hear anyone trying to arouse an armed struggle," he said.

Jeyakumar's presence at the gathering provoked a response from those who thought he was trying to re-ignite a communist struggle.

He said a total of 72 police reports had been lodged particularly at police stations in Malacca.

Jeyakumar appeared with lawyer Kohila Yanasekaran for investigation under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 223 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

On Monday, Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu (below) also went to Bukit Aman to explain his presence at the memorial event.

The gathering, organised by a group of former CPM members, saw about 300 people in attendance, mostly elderly folks.

Other than Liu and Jeyakumar, those in attendance included PKR stalwart Syed Husin Ali and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor Abdul Rahman Embong.

Previously, Liu had stressed that he attended the event in his personal capacity and shared that his grandfather had been involved in the movement to free Malaya from the British after the Japanese were driven out. - Mkini