PETALING JAYA, June 2 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has defended his suggestion to save the human trafficking camps discovered near the Malaysia-Thailand border for posterity.
Insisting that his suggestion was to document the incident for the future, he said he never suggested it as a tourism spot or attraction.
“I did not say make it a tourist attraction, I suggested it to be a place that can be visited,” he said.
The former Perlis menteri besar said although it was not a pleasant incident, the fact was it did happen.
“I suggested some of the tents be left so that this incident will be a reminder for the people. They should know what these camps were all about,” he said.
Shahidan made the suggestion following a visit to a human trafficking camp near Lubuk Sireh, Perlis and said it was suitable as it had facilities such as a surau, mosque and a vegetable farm.
“There were also writings on walls which record the presence of people there,” he said.
Shahidan believed with his suggestion, human trafficking activities would also be deterred as more people would be in the area, adding he would propose the idea to the state government and police.
“The people should see the camps that are similar to the ones set up by the Vietcong forces near the Cambodian border,” he said.
DAP yesterday hit out at Shahidan for his proposal, accusing him of lacking empathy and compassion.
DAP Bukit Bendera political education director Syerleena Abdul Rashid said that while the niche “dark tourism” was a viable sector, Shahidan’s proposal had “shocked the nation” with his “upsetting” comment.
“The callous statements made regarding the migrant crisis, from day one, have shown his utter lack of compassion and empathy.
“His recent proposal to turn tragedy into profit is unsettling and is especially hurtful to those who have lost their loved ones simply because our system failed to protect the well-being of other human beings,” she said in a statement.
