The government is not involved in any demand for compensation sought by any non-government organisation (NGO) for Second World War victims because it has considered that matter closed, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said Malaysia had resolved the matter with the Japanese government through an agreement signed on Sept 21 1967.

“However, the government will not stop any individual or NGO from pursuing the matter with the Japanese government as it is their individual right to do so,” he said in reply to Datuk Yap Pian Hon (BN-Serdang) who wanted to know the government’s stand on the matter.

Salang said that based on the agreement, Malaysia had accepted compensation in the form of ships from the Japanese government to start the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC).

He said there was no need for members of the house to raise the matter again as it was resolved during the era of the first prime minister, Tuanku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.