— MCCBCHST
Malay Mail Online
June 2, 2015

JUNE 2 — The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) is deeply saddened by the discovery of mass graves of migrants at the Malaysian/Thai border in Perlis. We are distressed to read reports that they were victims of abuse and torture at the hands of human traffickers and that several members of our police force may have been complicit.

The exploitation, torture and killing of our fellow human beings at these “death camps” on Malaysian soil are a blight of our nation and humanity. These victims deserve more than the indignity of un-mourned deaths and unmarked graves and their souls call for our prayers and for justice.

As such the MCCBCHST calls on Malaysians of all faiths to hold prayer sessions for the solace and rest of the victims and to ask for those responsible for these “death camps” to be brought to justice.

We call upon regional and national leaders to legislate and enforce sustainable humane solutions to the long-standing challenge of refugees, migrants and stateless people being exploited and abused by human traffickers across our borders.

As a Nation that places “Belief in God” as the first principle of the Rukunnegara we are obliged by the demands of our different faiths to address the spiritual debt we owe to the souls of the victims. The desecration of violence on the soil of our nation must be purified by our prayers and our commitment to act against those who have perpetrated this crime against humanity.

We therefore call for :

1. careful identification of the remains and endeavours to trace their families

2. the dignity of the burial and rites be administrated and mourned

3. all faith communities to pray and others to spend time in quite reflection over this terrible discovery.

4. An Independent Investigation be carried out, so that perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice and that this will never happen again.