May 13 burial ground finally gazetted as cemetery

May 13 burial ground finally gazetted as cemetery


Published: Nov 23, 2024 1:14 AM


The cemetery in Sungai Buloh for victims of the racial riot on May 13, 1969, has been officially gazetted as a non-Muslim cemetery.

The Persatuan Sahabat Warisan Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (Pesawa) said it was officially notified of this yesterday by the Gombak Land and District Office, and that group has been appointed as the site’s managing agent.

Pesawa, which has been lobbying for the preservation of the site, said this was the result of four years of efforts to have the site officially recognised.

“The recognition of the May 13 Cemetery as an official non-Muslim burial site is the result of years of effort by all our members and the fulfilment of a long-standing hope of the public.

“This designation finally allows everyone to lay their concerns to rest,” said Pesawa president Tan Choong Cheng and adviser Tang Ah Chai in a statement today.


Pesawa said it plans to improve the cemetery’s facilities further and strengthen public awareness of Malaysia’s historical and cultural heritage.

Asked what the designation as a non-Muslim cemetery would mean for Muslims buried at the site, Pesawa told Malaysiakini the matter would be discussed with authorities.

Previously, it was reported that there are 102 tombstones for victims of various races and religions, including two who are Malay.

In May, an annual memorial event at the cemetery drew criticism over photos of a Muslim reciting prayers at the cemetery.


Pesawa clarified the site was the final resting place of people of various faiths, so the organising committee had invited Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Christian, and Catholic representatives to recite prayers at the memorial.

In 2017, there were concerns that plans for a new car park could affect the site. This led to calls to gazette the site and erect a new fence to protect it.