Looking back on the May 13 riots
Social activist Chandra Muzaffar (left) says measures taken after May 13 were necessary for the nation to move forward, but historian Azmi Arifin feels there are still unity ‘gaps’ that need to be filled.
PETALING JAYA: Ernest Cheong remembers hanging out at his girlfriend’s house in Pudu on the evening of May 13, 1969.
It was like any other day until the girlfriend’s brother arrived home with the news that there was fighting in Chow Kit. “You’d better go home,” he told Cheong.
But Cheong brushed it off as just a gang fight and, instead of returning to his house in Petaling Jaya, went out with his girlfriend to watch a movie in Bukit Bintang.
Halfway through the movie, the lights in the cinema hall were turned on and the audience was told that Kuala Lumpur had come under curfew and that everyone had to go home.
The couple tried to go back to Pudu but were stopped by the police. They decided to go to Cheong’s house but on the way to Petaling Jaya, they were told by policemen to turn around as there were too many killings in the area.
In the end, they sought shelter at a friend’s house in Old Klang Road, where they stayed for the next four days until the worst of the infamous May 13 riots was over.
According to official records, 196 people died in clashes between Malays and non-Malays, but unofficial estimates put the figure closer to 800 or 1,000.
The riots, still considered the worst in the country’s history, led to many changes in the country.
A state of emergency was declared, affirmative action policies were introduced, as was the Rukun Negara. The prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, subsequently resigned.
Social activist Chandra Muzaffar said one important change that came about after the riots was a 1971 constitutional amendment that effectively curbed the type of provocative speech that stoked racial tensions in the run-up to the 1969 general election.
“Almost every issue was raised” in the election campaign, he said. “Among other things, the special position of the Malays and the citizenship of the non-Malays were questioned. Things got heated.
“The constitutional amendment put an end to this. Essentially, it established boundaries, which I believe is crucial in any multiethnic country.”
He said the decision to ban debate on issues like the special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak as well as the citizenship and legitimate rights of other communities allowed the country to move on from the bloody riots.
“Of course, there are downsides to this,” he said. “We have not been able to really talk about how the special position of the Malays has been usurped by some in the ruling class, or the responsibilities that come with citizenship, both among the Malays and the non-Malays.”
Chandra described May 13 as a black mark in the country’s history, but said he was grateful that the authorities got the situation under control “very fast”.
“I think the measures taken by the government were necessary for the nation to move forward,” he said.
Historian Azmi Arifin of Universiti Sains Malaysia said much still needed to be done as there were “gaps” in unity among the people 53 years after the incident.
He said political parties must have the will to move beyond race-based politics and policies.
He acknowledged the worth of some policies introduced in reaction to the riots, but said even these needed to be reviewed and adjusted to suit the times.
“At the same time, the rakyat have a role to play because they are the ones who have the power to decide their government,” he said, adding that it would be difficult to change the attitudes of politicians as long as the public subscribed to racial politics.
Looking back at the incident, Cheong, now 77, said he could have been one of those who lost their lives.
While the period was terrifying, he said, it never changed how he saw his “Malay brothers”.
“We grew up in an environment where there was no racial prejudice. I have no hatred in my heart for the Malays,” he added.
PETALING JAYA: Ernest Cheong remembers hanging out at his girlfriend’s house in Pudu on the evening of May 13, 1969.
It was like any other day until the girlfriend’s brother arrived home with the news that there was fighting in Chow Kit. “You’d better go home,” he told Cheong.
But Cheong brushed it off as just a gang fight and, instead of returning to his house in Petaling Jaya, went out with his girlfriend to watch a movie in Bukit Bintang.
Halfway through the movie, the lights in the cinema hall were turned on and the audience was told that Kuala Lumpur had come under curfew and that everyone had to go home.
The couple tried to go back to Pudu but were stopped by the police. They decided to go to Cheong’s house but on the way to Petaling Jaya, they were told by policemen to turn around as there were too many killings in the area.
In the end, they sought shelter at a friend’s house in Old Klang Road, where they stayed for the next four days until the worst of the infamous May 13 riots was over.
According to official records, 196 people died in clashes between Malays and non-Malays, but unofficial estimates put the figure closer to 800 or 1,000.
The riots, still considered the worst in the country’s history, led to many changes in the country.
A state of emergency was declared, affirmative action policies were introduced, as was the Rukun Negara. The prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, subsequently resigned.
Social activist Chandra Muzaffar said one important change that came about after the riots was a 1971 constitutional amendment that effectively curbed the type of provocative speech that stoked racial tensions in the run-up to the 1969 general election.
“Almost every issue was raised” in the election campaign, he said. “Among other things, the special position of the Malays and the citizenship of the non-Malays were questioned. Things got heated.
“The constitutional amendment put an end to this. Essentially, it established boundaries, which I believe is crucial in any multiethnic country.”
He said the decision to ban debate on issues like the special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak as well as the citizenship and legitimate rights of other communities allowed the country to move on from the bloody riots.
“Of course, there are downsides to this,” he said. “We have not been able to really talk about how the special position of the Malays has been usurped by some in the ruling class, or the responsibilities that come with citizenship, both among the Malays and the non-Malays.”
Chandra described May 13 as a black mark in the country’s history, but said he was grateful that the authorities got the situation under control “very fast”.
“I think the measures taken by the government were necessary for the nation to move forward,” he said.
Historian Azmi Arifin of Universiti Sains Malaysia said much still needed to be done as there were “gaps” in unity among the people 53 years after the incident.
He said political parties must have the will to move beyond race-based politics and policies.
He acknowledged the worth of some policies introduced in reaction to the riots, but said even these needed to be reviewed and adjusted to suit the times.
“At the same time, the rakyat have a role to play because they are the ones who have the power to decide their government,” he said, adding that it would be difficult to change the attitudes of politicians as long as the public subscribed to racial politics.
Looking back at the incident, Cheong, now 77, said he could have been one of those who lost their lives.
While the period was terrifying, he said, it never changed how he saw his “Malay brothers”.
“We grew up in an environment where there was no racial prejudice. I have no hatred in my heart for the Malays,” he added.
May 13 is a useful perpetually menacing reminder by Race and Religion Supremacists to ensure the Nons , especially Chinese, shut up and remember their "place" in Malaysia at the sufferance of the Sons of the Soil.
ReplyDeleteIt is still regularly trundled out as a political backdrop..
Wakakakaka…
ReplyDeleteSocial activist Chandra Muzaffar!
A mfering lalang searching for sopo opportunities to remain relevant in the bolihland!