“We are prepared to testify at any RCI, if we are called, as it would be the best forum to explain the issue and end confusion over it,” said Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.
“The establishment of a RCI will end polemics surrounding the issue and prevent it from being used as a weapon to discredit political enemies ahead of the 14th general election,” he told reporters at Amanah headquarters here.
The Memali tragedy has resurfaced into public debate after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was asked about it at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum organised by the youth wing of his party PPBM.
Dr Mahathir headed the administration when the incident happened in November 1985.
An attempt by police to arrest a religious leader, Ibrahim Mahmud or Ibrahim Libya, at Kampung Memali in Baling, Kedah, for deviant teaching caused a confrontation that ended in the deaths of 14 villagers and four policemen.
PAS has consistently rejected the accusation against Ibrahim, a party member.
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said recently the government was willing to form a RCI to investigate the Memali incident if the public, including the families of the victims, wanted it.
The proposal was welcomed by PAS and even Lim Kit Siang of DAP.
Former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam, who held the post during the incident, agreed to the proposal but suggested that the RCI be set up after the 14th general election to avoid being exploited for political capital.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was the premier at that time, also welcomed a Memali RCI but only in his usual sarcastic style.
“I think they should investigate everything. The people who worked with me must also be investigated,” he told FMT.
A government White Paper on the incident was presented to parliament in 1986 but its contents were disputed by the villagers and PAS.
Salahuddin said a Memali RCI must delve into the controversial “Amanat Hadi”, which was alleged to have inspired militant action by the Memali villagers.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang issued that message in a speech made in 1981 when he was the PAS Terengganu commissioner.
Salahuddin repeated his party’s stand that investigations should also be launched into other scandals involving BN leaders.
“RCIs should be formed to widen the probe into all public interest issues, including the scandals in 1MDB and Felda,” he said.