Leaders of more than 480 bodies representing about 5 million ethnic Chinese in Malaysia have signed a petition objecting to Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The organisations are demanding that Tokyo make a 'more honest' apology for wartime atrocities and pay M$500 million ($1.026 billion) in compensation. About 1,000 members and leaders of the organisations protested in the Malaysian capital and two other cities on Sunday. However, mainstream government-controlled media did not report the demonstration. In addition, none of the three Chinese parties in the ruling National Front government took part in the protest, in keeping with the government's policy of maintaining harmonious ties with Japan and China - both important investment and trading partners. 'The Japanese killed more than 100,000 ethnic Chinese, pillaged Malaysia of its natural resources and forcibly collected M$500 million from Malaysian Chinese,' said Tang Ah Chai, head of the Selangor Assembly Hall, an influential Chinese organisation. 'They have never admitted to the atrocities.' During Sunday's protests, participants urged Japan to give an 'open and honest' apology for wartime atrocities and abandon all military ambitions. They also urged Malaysia not to support Japan's bid for a permanent security council seat. Survivors of Japanese atrocities attended the protest and recounted their sufferings during the Japanese occupation from 1941 until Japan surrendered in August 1945. 'I was seven years old when Japanese soldiers rounded up every adult in my village and executed them for giving money to the Kuomintang,' said Soon Kian Seng, 70, holding a photograph of his parents, who were also killed. 'I can never forgive them.'