‘Paper on Kg Medan tragedy misused’

Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

KUALA LUMPUR: Yayasan Strategik Sosial (YSS) executive director Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria has denied that his research paper had identified any ethnic group as being solely responsible for the Kampung Medan incident. 

Dr Jayasooria, whose papers on the tragedy had been used in the controversial Ethnic Relations guidebook, said highlighting only one of the six points he raised was a gross misrepresentation of his views. 

“Nowhere in my articles on Kg Medan did I state that Indian youths were the sole cause of the Kg Medan tragedy. My position is clear that there are a multiplicity of factors and these have to be read in relation to one another,” he said, adding that it was of utmost importance that politicians read the full text. 

He said the writers of the guidebook did not inform or consult him before using the points from the article that he presented in 2003.  

He was commenting on Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamad's statement that the Kg Medan incident in the guidebook was attributed to a paper by Dr Jayasooria.