KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — Umno’s accusations that the DAP is anti-Malay spread to Parliament today when a lawmaker accused the opposition party of starting the May 13, 1969 race riots.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang described Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s accusation yesterday that the DAP was anti-Malay and anti-Islam as “slanderous lies” and one of several “hate speeches” made at Umno’s ongoing general assembly.

But Lenggong MP Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah stood up and interrupted Lim (picture), the DAP parliamentary leader, by repeatedly shouting “May 13, Ipoh Timor.”

“It is true,” he said, referring to Muhyiddin’s speech when opening the Umno Youth and women’s wing assemblies. “May 13, who moved it? May 13, Ipoh Timor. Who moved on May 13?”

After MPs from PAS and PKR stood up to defend their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) colleague, other Umno MPs shouted that the DAP “cheats Malays” and “PAS is a warrior for DAP.”

They also accused PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (Gombak MP) and PAS political bureau member Khalid Samad (Shah Alam) of being supporters of “the racist DAP.”

The May 13 race riots, which some reports say killed over 2,000, were sparked off after opposition parties had denied the Umno-led Alliance its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament.

A victory parade in Kuala Lumpur led to a reaction by Malays and a state of emergency being declared.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said in his presidential address at the Umno general assembly this morning that his party was not racist and that it was in fact responsible for the country’s current “social stability.”

But he also said “let us not be complacent, as among leaders of the opposition are those who incited slogans to insult Malays that led to the May 13 tragedy.”

The prime minister has repeatedly pleaded to Umno delegates to adopt a more moderate approach, but his pleas appear to have gone unheeded.

Party conservatives have already been roused over the past two days by speeches demonising PR as anti-Malay, anti-Islam, “agents of Christianisation”, “bapok” (transvestites), “bangsat” (bastards) and “pondan” (effeminate)

Response from LKS:

@limkitsiang on Twitter ·

Downright UMNO lies. Intervened 2point out in Parlmnt 1971 I had called for public inquiry into causes of May 13 riots http://t.co/lVghutpH

Umno is bereft of conviction and hampered by weak leaders and their only course of action is to remind us of the possibility of another May 13.

Utusan Malaysia’s headline, ‘Malaysia Negara Kristian?’ (Malaysia a Christian state?), was a subtle Umno plot to warn us, that the consequences of voting for the Opposition might trigger another ‘May 13’.

The Utusan article bears all the tell-tale signs– sowing the seeds of discord and exaggerating our fears. Ever since the May 13 riots of 1969, Umno has relied on scaremongering and threats, to make Malaysians prisoners of irrational fear.

It is in Umno’s character to employ cynical tactics because it faces defeat in the 13th General Election. The opposition has captivated the electorate as seen by its successes in Sarawak and to make matters worse, PAS has rejected Umno’s overtures. Umno has run out of ideas and vision. It lacks momentum and motivation. It has reached the end of the road.

In June 1969, the young Mahathir Mohamad cut his political teeth by penning a letter urging Tunku Abdul Rahman to resign as Prime Minister and Umno chief. Mahathir blamed Tunku, for the Alliance’s general election losses and May 13.

The Umno council expelled Mahathir from Umno in September 1969 but two years later, he was welcomed back into the party. By 1973, he was appointed senator. The year after, Mahathir became the Minister of Education. Bizarrely, Mahathir became prime minister twelve years after May 13 and his expulsion from Umno.

Extremist Malays probably considered May 13 a Ketuanan Melayu triumph. In addition, the 70s saw the age of ascension of the new Malay capitalists who sought to undermine the aristocratic Malays, of which the Tunku belonged.

The arrogance of Mahathir can be illustrated in how he boasted during campaigning in 1969, that he could retain his parliamentary seat without any need for support from the Chinese electorate.

The NEP was borne out of the May 13 riots. Umno was given carte blanche to implement their agenda for political and economic dominance through the NEP.

Umno’s masterplan at work

In a further horrific move, all the institutions which were left us by the British were slowly and systematically dismantled to assist Umno in its masterplan for complete domination of our mind, body and soul.

Our judiciary, the police, the military, our civil service and the education system, were some of the region’s best, but which have all been exploited by Umno.

Malaysians are not convinced by the Umno ‘experiment’. What have we to show for the past 54 years of Umno domination? So what if we have twin towers of concrete, steel and glass that reach out to the sky when our morals have sunk to terrible depths?

What use have we of an astronaut who ventures into space when the poor Penan can’t even send his daughter to school without the risk of being raped? What is the point of mono-culture when you deprive the Iban or Orang Asli of his ancestral land or of the general populace of much needed acreage for the cultivation of food crops?

Umno’s governance has been a wasted opportunity of historic proportions. Why should we believe that Umno was elected fairly when we hear of the various ways Umno is ‘creative’ at election rigging?

Umno was well-placed to change this country for the better. But its succession of leaders has failed the country.

There were flaws which undermined the project to make Malaysia an economic phenomenon.

First is that we threw money at the Malays without making them understand the true value of how to appreciate it. The second was that we did not include the non-Malays in the restructuring of the country.

The Malays were sold a dream but that dream has turned into a nightmare. Industrialisation meant they moved out of their kampungs to the towns for they were told the streets were paved with gold. The loss of the close family unit and community network plus the inadequate housing, have created its own social problems.

The Ibans too feel the same disappointment and frustrations as the Malay. Whole longhouses are vacated as the Ibans migrate to the urban areas with the loss of their NCR lands. But the longhouses are not empty for they have been colonised by the Indonesians who now work as the cheap labour of the massive plantations in Sarawak.

The non-Malays, like the Indians and Chinese, would like to share in the Malaysian dream but are forbidden from doing so. They are ‘pendatang’ and are treated as second class citizens even though Malaysia is the only place they call home.

Led by weak leaders

When all that is familiar is eradicated, these races feel a sense of loss. Without an identity, how can they possibly build a future together?

Given all this, it is not surprising that the opposition has managed to capture the imagination of the voters to build a nation based on the contributions of each and everyone of us.

The possibility of a united stable Malaysia under the opposition is what scares Umno and so they try one last tactic to influence the Malays.

Umno, via Utusan and its contentious article – tells the Malay that he will be robbed of his faith, possibly even be converted to a Christian, because subversive elements are trying to change the official religion to Christianity.

Umno is bereft of conviction and hampered by weak leaders. Their only course of action is to remind us of the possibility of another May 13. But why should we allow them to make us prisoners of irrational fear?

Mariam Mokhtar is a political observer and an FMT columnist.

Free Malaysia Today

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of May 13 riots. It stands as a day of infamy, caused in part by misinformation to stoke the flames of discontent among the races being spread among the populace, leading to fear, anger and ultimately to destruction of property and deaths.

To ensure that this day does not repeat itself, the government must send a strong message that those guilty of spreading misinformation which divides multi-racial multi-religious Malaysia must stop or be made to stop.

Thus, I urge the government to take stern action against Utusan Malaysia for spreading its lies and misinformation with its utterly irresponsible and unconscionable reporting of its “Kristian agama rasmi?” frontpage story.

It is despicable that Utusan Malaysia, which is owned by Umno, published this made-up story based on the wild allegations of two pro-Umno bloggers who provided no evidence whatsoever, and yet Utusan has escaped unpunished by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also Umno vice president.

The letter of caution issued by Hishammuddin to Utusan Malaysia is a pathetic excuse for censure because it does not commensurate at all with the gravity of Utusan’s crime of publishing lies to pit the Muslim against the Christians in this country.

I remind Hishammuddin that the Home Ministry has a track record of taking far more severe action upon other publications who committed lesser wrongs and oversights, including:

In 2006, China Press was made to sack its two top editors after it wrongly identified the woman in the “nude squat” incident as a Chinese national.

In 2006, the Sarawak Tribune was suspended for publishing a disrespectful image of the Prophet Muhammad.

In 2006, Guang Ming evening edition too was suspended for two weeks for publishing the same image

In 2007, Makkal Osai was suspended for 1 month for publishing a disrespectful image of Jesus Christ.

In 2008, Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was detained under the Internal Security Act, not for any wrongdoing but for reporting the truth that Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail’s had described the Chinese as mere squatters in Malaysia.

Prevent May 13

In 2008, I too was a victim of Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible journalism when it falsely reported that I had forbidden the call of the azan by a mosque in my Kinrara constituency, leading to my detention under the Internal Security Act.

In 2010, China Press chief editor Teoh Yang Koon was suspended for two weeks for misreporting Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan’s resignation.

Thus, Hishammuddin should not practice double standards in his handling of Utusan Malaysia whose repeated malicious reporting has gone far beyond the point of mere cautioning.

The right thing for Hishammuddin to do is revoke Utusan Malaysia’s publication license to send a strong message that such news-reporting is contemptible, unacceptable and totally incongruent with the 1Malaysia that the government claims to support.

If he does so, Malaysians can finally be free from the dangers of Utusan Malaysia’s malicious provocation.

Hishammuddin should then go one step further to have the editors of Utusan Malaysia sacked in his capacity as Umno vice president.

After all, Utusan Malaysia is owned by Umno. Hishammuddin has the opportunity, power and influence to do so.

Failing which, it will appear that the Barisan Nasional government is not sincere in not wanting to prevent May 13 from re-occuring, choosing instead to employ it as a bogeymen when convenient, to pit Malaysians against Malaysians, for their own political interests at the cost of our nation’s peace and security.

MAY 13 — Mom was 16. They lived at Cheras Batu 2 1/2 squatters, near the legendary field which produced Mokhtar Dahari, and near Cochrane Road School, where DBKL has now built a hall along Jalan Loke Yew. Grandpa decided not to open his stall at Central Market that day. The situation was tense from what was being heard in KL due to the massive win of the Democratic Action Party. Rumours were spreading that the Malays were going to attack the Chinese. Everyone was terrified.

Grandpa and grandma quickly packed up some food, just in case they needed to make a run and gathered everyone. They all sat quietly waiting as far back as possible in the tiny little wooden house, at the back of the kitchen. Grandpa took a radio to the kitchen, to listen to any news on what was happening outside.

No one dared venture outside.

The usually lively squatters area was extremely quiet that day. Then a few knocks on the door… everyone was quiet and dared not answer. Then a few knocks again. And a few knocks again. Then someone called my grandpa’s name softly… “Ah Chong… Ah Chong… are you inside?” It took a few more calls before my grandpa answered and opened the door, only after he was sure that it was the youngster from the sundry shop.

They continued their conversation in front of the house, whispering to each other. Then he came to the kitchen and gathered everyone. They walked out of the house and quickly hurried themselves to the wood-processing factory nearby.

Along the way to the factory, mom and family were accompanied by some young Chinese boys. Mom recognised them; they were the gangsters at the squatters, some with scars on their hands, some with tattoos. Each one of them were holding a parang, some samurai swords, and others metal rods.

Upon reaching, they were led to the wooden planks stores and were told to hide there. A few other neighbours were already there. Everyone look frightened, not knowing what was happening outside. After some whispers here and there, mom found out that some other neighbours had gone to Chan Sow Lin, and were also hiding at some factories.

Before the Chinese youngsters left, a few more youngsters came and grabbed some more parangs, samurai swords, and metal rods from the store, hidden among the planks of woods. Mom took a peep, and saw a lot of weapons hidden in between.

Then someone called out in Malay… everyone panicked, thinking that they had been ambushed. Everyone kept quiet. After a long wait, Grandpa whispered “Don’t worry, he is Pak Mat, he and a few others will help guard around the squatters.” The day went by, and soon night fell. That night, mom heard on radio that an emergency had been declared by Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Mom heard from one of the neighbours that a massive bloodshed had broke out at Tai Wa cinema (the old Cathay cinema along Jalan Pudu, now an empty lot with a bus station). There were scores of people inside the cinema, watching a just up-on-the-screen new movie. Suddenly, they were ambushed and attacked. They couldn’t escape. Scores were dead.

Some of the Chinese gangsters who were around managed to gather some people, and tried to save as many people as possible. There were also some Malays locals around who helped out, trying to pull away people and hide them — in drains, inside shops, anywhere. Anywhere they could. The slashing groupsoon backed off and moved back towards Puduraya. Mom also heard that many Malays were also hurt.

Mom’s tears flowed down her cheek. Until today, no one knows how many died.

The FRU arrived shortly after, trying to help as much as possible. Apparently, the FRU were also up in arms against the Police, as during that time, the FRU were made up of mainly Chinese, whilst the Police were Malays. The FRU soon rounded up some Chinese gangsters and instructed them to help stand guard around their villages.

The FRU helped man the main roads leading to the villages. Some Malays volunteered to help, manning the intersections into the villages together with the Chinese gangsters, and patrolling around at night.

Throughout the night, there were some noises outside the factory and around the squatters. Footsteps of people running around quickly. Rays of torch lights occasionally shone into the factory. However, no untoward incidents occurred. Everyone stayed at the factory for a few days, with the Chinese and Malay youngsters taking turns to bring food to the factory and patrolling. It was only after the soldiers came that everyone dared return to their homes. And everyone was glad that nothing untoward happened to any of the villagers in the squatters.

It was an unforgettable day in Malaysian history.

And that incident shaped the path of our society today.

I could not understand her feelings, every time she told me her stories of May 13. I can just try to imagine how bad it was, and how it has traumatised my family and the rest of the Chinese community from that era.

And not too long ago, I too had a near encounter of a similar nature, if not entirely similar. It was 8 March 2008. We were back at the nerve centre, to hand in the results from the polling centre I was taking charge of, and it was a win from the school. On the way back, my friend called and said that Khalid had won Bandar Tun Razak. I was jumping.

I was even more ecstatic when unofficial results started to flow in and more schools were reporting majority wins.

It was not what we expected, as we expected a tough fight. Soon calls started to flow in, we had won most seats; KL and Selangor were looking good, very good.

Crowds outside were celebrating, shouts could be heard. We quickly gathered some people and asked them to calm down, fearing any untoward incident. And coincidentally, the nerve centre was also in Pudu, behind the old Tai Wa cinema. Creepy.

Shortly after, we headed to the nomination centre, waiting anxiously for the polling officer to announce the results. We knew we had nailed it, and were just waiting for the official results. Then my phone rang, my friend from Penang called. He said “Tsu Koon lost and they have lost Penang”. An eerie feeling suddenly crept in. Flashback of the stories of May 13 that my mom told me. I told him we had won in KL, and it seemed that the opposition were going to govern Selangor.

I quickly asked him to go home. He was jolted suddenly and realised that situation was very uncertain, and that anything could happen had anyone from the other parties provoked, be itjust throwing a stone or bottle towards the celebrating crowd. I called my wife, asking her to stay indoors.

Nothing untoward did happen that night. The following morning, we proudly watched on TV as they announced a major political tsunami in Malaysia. I was glad, but I couldn’t stop a sigh of relief that nothing untoward happened.

I realised that we young Malaysians had grown up from May 13. Whilst I do not really understand the feeling of them who had encountered it, we do need to remember what happened. But it is not for us to remember to hate, but for us to remember to cherish that this is part of our history, and to ensure that we learn from the mistakes made, and further improve ourselves.

Looking back at mom’s recollection of May 13, we can see that not all Malays were extremists. Mom said that there were very glad that Pak Mat and some others came help and stood guard. And likewise, Pak Mat was very sad about what happened to those at Tai Wa cinema, including some friends who lost their friends there. Even today, we all knew that not all Malays are extremists, and they don’t stir up May 13, but instead understand why it had happened.

It is already 42 years since then. And today, as a proud young Malaysian, I can proudly say that we have moved past the ghost of May 13, as demonstrated in March 2008.

Today, let us rejoice together as a peace loving Malaysians and celebrate this day!

* Adrian is a proud Anak Bangsa Malaysia. He tweets at @AdrianNCF

FMT LETTER

From Rtd Brig-Gen Mohd Arshad Raji

What words can I use to describe Utusan Malaysia’s (UM) recent report that some Christian group is plotting to turn Malaysia into a Christian State? What words can I describe the report which says that a Christian group together with the DAP is plotting to appoint a Christian as the Prime Minister? The only words that I can used to describe all this are disgusting, irresponsible, dangerous and a pack of lies.

How on earth could the editors of the daily approve such a report that is unsubstantiated, and knowing full well that the report can be a cause for serious racial strife between Christians and Muslims of this country. This is not the first time UM has reported on issues that can bring devastation and worse still the disintegration of a well tested multi racial and multi cultural Malaysian society. How could the home minister be so lame in not wanting to impose stricter rules to prohibit UM from publishing reports that can bear serious effect on racial harmony?

Personally, I have had enough of UM, and I dread the day when this blessed nation of ours sees the repeat of the bloody May 13 incident.

I would like to ask the entire UM editorial board, where were they during May 13, 1969 i.e. 42 years ago? I think most were mere kids sucking milk bottles. Some may be slightly older who know not what suffering and fear is all about. Just ask the soldiers on how they felt trying to maintain the peace throughout the entire troubled period, and most will say that they do not wish to go through a similar period again. I was lucky because I was in Tawau then, but my parents who were residing at Kg Datuk Keramat lived in fear.

Let me tell this to the entire UM editorial board that you don’t know what it is like to go without sleep. You do not know what it is like to be shot at. You do not know the ordeals that your parents have gone through to protect you. You do not understand what fear is and how it affects your physical and psychological well being. You do not understand what pain is, and there are thousands of others that you do not understand. So please cease writing all this garbage, and stop practicing gutter journalism.

Personally, I do not think what was reported is true. And I do not believe the Christians in this country would want to do what was stupidly reported by UM. The repercussion is too great and no one would want to see this country disintegrate and destroyed by some unscrupulous instigators of violence who gleefully hides themselves behind their sponsors. And if ever your report turns to be true and is realised in the future, I will not blame anyone else but UM and its sponsors for their stupidity.

To Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, you have to act mean and fast, and do not let the instigators and those behind these reports be let off scot free. The people know who owns UM and if you fear to act professionally, then you deserve to be called a COWARD.

13 MEI — Hari ini genap 42 tahun peristiwa berdarah 13 Mei yang berlaku tiga hari selepas Pilihan Raya Umum 1969.

Tragedi itu diceritakan dengan panjang lebar oleh bekas Ketua Pergerakan Wanita Umno, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani dalam bukunya bertajuk Memoir Seorang Pejuang.

Ia diceritakan daripada perspektif beliau sebagai penduduk Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, antara kawasan utama berlaku rusuhan kaum yang menakutkan itu.

Yang cukup menarik, dalam memoirnya Aishah, 88, menceritakan semangat perpaduan yang ditunjukkan penduduk berbilang kaum dalam menghadapi situasi mencemaskan itu.

Menurut bekas Menteri Kebajikan Am itu, seorang setiausaha di ibu pejabat UMNO telah diselamatkan seorang penjaga kedai Cina di Chow Kit dengan disorokkan di celah gulungan kain apabila beberapa orang yang memegang kayu mahu memukul wanita itu, sehinggalah dia diselamatkan oleh askar pada lewat tengah malam.

Suasana ketika itu memang cukup menakutkan dan Aishah menceritakan bagaimana kumpulan yang dikaitkan dengan DAP telah mengadakan perarakan tanpa permit di kawasan majoriti Melayu di Jalan Hale (Jalan Raja Abdullah), Kampung Baru sambil mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat ‘Melayu bodoh’. Terdapat juga samseng yang memukul dan menahan kereta yang dipandu orang Melayu.

Apa yang dilakukan kumpulan itu kemudiannya mencetuskan tindak balas daripada beratus-ratus pemuda Melayu. Tulis Aishah: ‘‘Menjelang senja, rumah saya di Jalan Daud didatangi orang ramai yang mencari perlindungan. Saya masih teringat bagaimana seorang pemuda Cina lari lintang-pukang dengan tidak berkasut masuk ke rumah saya.

‘‘Dalam masa kira-kira 10 minit selepas itu, keadaan semakin menakutkan kerana di hadapan rumah saya telah muncul beberapa orang yang tidak saya kenali dengan parang panjang di tangan, tidak memakai baju hanya berseluar panjang hitam. Mata liar bagai mencari sesuatu.

‘‘Saya terus meminta pemuda Cina itu supaya jangan keluar rumah sehingga saya dapat menghubungi polis atau kenderaan askar yang boleh membawanya keluar dengan selamat.

‘‘Dalam pada itu, saudara mara yang datang berkumpul di rumah saya telah membawa bersama-sama beberapa kanak-kanak Cina, mereka disuruh memakai baju kurung supaya tidak dikenali sesiapa. Salah seorang dipanggil dengan nama Minah sahaja.”

Mengulas peristiwa itu, Presiden Hindu Sangam Malaysia, R.S. Mohan Shanmugam mengakui banyak iktibar yang boleh diperoleh daripada semangat perpaduan yang ditunjukkan oleh rakyat ketika tragedi itu.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, semua pihak harus menghormati penegasan yang dibuat oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada tahun lalu bahawa tidak perlu tarikh itu diperingati secara besar-besaran.

Pelbagai pihak sebelum ini mencadangkan supaya Malaysia mencontohi Singapura yang memperingati rusuhan kaum pada 21 Julai 1964 sebagai Hari Keharmonian Kaum.

‘‘Peristiwa hitam 13 Mei 1969 bukan sesuatu yang baik untuk negara kita dan ia mestilah dilupakan,” ujar Mohan Shanmugam.

Tambah beliau, semua pihak harus bersyukur kerana semangat perpaduan yang ditunjukkan oleh rakyat berbilang kaum ketika tragedi berkenaan masih lagi diamalkan di negara ini.

Dalam pada itu, Felo Penyelidik Utama Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu (Atma), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof. Dr. Teo Kok Seong melahirkan kebimbangan semangat perpaduan yang ditunjukkan ketika tragedi itu, mula terhakis di kalangan generasi muda sekarang.

Katanya, semangat perpaduan itu semakin menipis kerana generasi muda tidak lagi mengambil inisiatif untuk kenal-mengenali budaya dan cara hidup rakan mereka daripada kaum lain.

‘‘Saya berpandangan sudah sampai masanya kerajaan, syarikat swasta dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan mengadakan lebih banyak program yang melibatkan percampuran generasi muda pelbagai kaum.

‘‘Sekarang kita mempunyai Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) tetapi ia tidak memadai kerana bilangan yang terlibat sangat kecil, jadi program bagi menyemai perpaduan harus diperluaskan di peringkat sekolah, universiti dan lain-lain sektor,” ujarnya.

Sementara itu, menghimbau kembali apa yang ditulis Aishah dalam memoirnya, beliau menjelaskan tragedi itu tidak akan berlaku sekiranya segelintir rakyat tidak terpengaruh dengan dakyah kumpulan tertentu yang terus menerus menentang apa jua yang berbau Melayu, lebih-lebih lagi konsep ketuanan Melayu.

Kumpulan itu yang tidak mahu berpijak kepada realiti sejarah telah menuntut diwujudkan sekolah, hospital dan universiti untuk orang Cina sahaja.

Satu kumpulan lain yang diterajui oleh DAP, Gerakan dan Parti Progresif Rakyat (PPP) pula memainkan sentimen orang Cina supaya melawan UMNO dengan berjanji untuk menghapuskan hak istimewa orang Melayu dan memperkenalkan penggunaan pelbagai bahasa seperti di Singapura jika menang pilihan raya.

Menurut Aishah lagi, peristiwa berdarah 13 Mei telah memperlihatkan bahawa sebahagian besar rakyat masih bersikap rasional.

Ia terbukti apabila pergaduhan kaum tidak merebak jauh dan boleh dikatakan hanya terbatas di kawasan Chow Kit dan Kampung Baru sahaja serta sedikit-sedikit melarat ke Ampang, Kampung Pandan, Datuk Keramat dan Hujung Pasir.

‘‘Dalam suasana kacau begitu rupa, masih ramai pula anggota masyarakat yang tidak hilang perhitungan dan perikemanusiaannya. Saya sempat juga mendengar cerita-cerita bagaimana orang Melayu diselamatkan oleh orang Cina dan sebaliknya,’’ tulisnya.

Menurut beliau, malam 13 Mei 1969 walaupun purnama mengambang indah, telah menjadi malam hitam yang meninggalkan seribu kenangan pahit untuk semua.

‘‘Ia merupakan satu amaran besar kepada semua pihak supaya jangan lagi memarakkan api perkauman. Semoga ia akan menjadi satu pengajaran yang berguna kepada generasi akan datang,” tulisnya lagi. — Utusan Malaysia

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

MAY 13 – When the May 13 Incident broke out in 1969, Said Zahari wrote these lines while under ISA detention in Singapore:

“Once again

History repeats itself

By savage deeds

In a civilized age

Once again

Hidden hands appear

Seeking the blood

Of the poor and the wretched

Once again

Colour, race, religion and language

Become sharp blades

To use in the carnage

It has happened

In every corner of the earth

Where the few eat bread

And the rest sand

It has happened

Where the few clothed in velvet

Sleep in palaces

The rest go naked, squeezed into shacks

It has happened –

Then hidden hands reappear

Spilling the blood of the poor

To cling on to power…”

Said Zahari certainly did not buy the official line that the riots had broken out spontaneously. The thesis of my 2007 title May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969 was that the pogrom was orchestrated by these hidden hands to facilitate the rise of the Malay state capitalist class in Umno and to topple the aristocratic class headed by the Tunku. This opportunity presented itself after the devastating results for the ruling coalition in the 1969 general elections.

It was not until July 1969 – a lapse of two full months — that the security forces played their expected role of restoring order. It was not as if the Malaysian security forces were inexperienced in the role of maintaining order. They had successfully contained the armed insurgency during the Emergency from 1948 to 1960 under more difficult circumstances. Allowing the riots to continue for so many weeks provided an excuse for the new Umno ruling class to make use of the state of emergency to implement their agenda for political and economic dominance through the New Economic Policy. In this plan, they received the full backing and connivance of the police and military.

Before the publication of my book, Umno had all along been using “May 13” as a spectre to frighten voters of another pogrom whenever a strong political opposition had arisen to challenge the ruling coalition. This was seen in various general elections such as the one in 1990 when the public broadcasting media RTM was used to purvey scenes of carnage to remind voters of the consequences.

Even the Tunku could see through the ploy. In 1988, he gave short shrift to the Government’s White Paper on Operation Lalang:

“For the Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir) to repeat (the story of) the violence of the May 13 Affair as a warning of what would have happened if the Government had not taken appropriate action immediately is like telling ghost stories to our children to prevent them from being naughty. This is not a childish matter but a matter of national importance. The tale should not be repeated because it shows us to be politically immature.” (SUARAM, “The White Paper on the October Affair and the Why? Papers”, 1989: 5)

The prelude to Operation Lalang saw the Umno leaders orchestrating racial tension over the transfer of non-qualified administrators to Chinese primary schools. They held a rally in Kampong Baru at which then Umno Youth Chief and present prime minister was one of the chest thumpers on stage while banners called for “Chinese blood” and “May 13”.

Since then, Umno has unleashed its Youth group to harass any groups which question Umno policies such as the mob assault on the East Timor Conference in 1996; the demonstration against the Chinese associations’ Suqiu appeals and threat to burn down the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in 2000, among others.

Orchestration of the Umno — Controlled Media

The Umno-owned and controlled press, especially Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian have been indispensable accessories in the orchestration of communalism and racial tension to justify authoritarian measures such as was seen in Operation Lalang, 1987 and to frighten the voters into supporting the status quo.

I have monitored the way “The UMNO Media Communalises” in Media Watch: The Use and Abuse of the Malaysian Press, 1990, in order to show you how the trick is done . For example, when the Government was being criticised for the BMF scandal in the eighties, Berita Harian (19.9.86) featured the UMNO president, Dr Mahathir’s veiled threat at the UMNO general assembly: KESABARAN MELAYU ADA HADNYA (“There is a limit to the patience of the Malays”). Utusan Malaysia (19.9.86) would not be outdone: JANGAN AMBIL MUDAH ORANG MELAYU (“Don’t take Malays for granted”)

When there was widespread opposition to the Official Secrets Act Amendment Bill in 1986 by all ethnic groups, Utusan Malaysia (6.12.86) chose to feature this headline quoting the UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Seri Mohd Najib: NAJIB INGATKAN ANGGOTA-ANGGOTA UMNO KEPIMPINAN MELAYU SEDANG DICABAR (“Najib alerts UMNO members Malay leadership being challenged”)

During the orchestrated “crisis” over the posting of unqualified administrators to the Chinese primary schools, the banner headline in Berita Harian (19.10.87) read: KEKAL KETUANAN MELAYU – PEMUDA (“Defend Malay dominance – UMNO Youth”)

Then when Tengku Razaleigh was leading the Opposition Front in the 1990 general elections, the editorial headline of Berita Harian (20.4.90) read: POLITIK TENGKU RAZALEIGH MERUGIKAN MELAYU (“Tengku Razaleigh’s politics – Malays lose out”)

One really needs to go further back to the Sixties to monitor how the UMNO media has deliberately communalized issues. It all gets rather tedious to even the most weathered media watcher because they carry on ad nauseum to serve the Umno agenda for political and economic domination by playing on Malay chauvinism.

As the young generation can see with their own eyes today, the UMNO media have not stopped. The latest caper by Utusan Malaysia alleging a plot to make Christianity an official religion is probably one of the crudest yet in its arsenal of orchestrated untruths.

Yet, has any Utusan Malaysia editor been sacked by their political masters for all these deliberate attempts at stoking racial tensions? So much for Najib’s “1Malaysia” caper! And they wonder why Malaysian professionals are leaving the country…

Demands for the 13th General Elections

Calling upon Umno and the Umno-owned and controlled media to be more responsible is like asking a leopard to change its spots. Bumiputraism has been part and parcel of Umno’s ideology and method for maintaining political and economic power. Demands for social responsibility and ethical standards in the media will not be heeded unless these are enshrined in new democratic institutions.

Therefore, as we mark this 42nd anniversary of May 13, we reiterate the call for:

— A Truth & Reconciliation Commission to honour those who lost their lives in 1969 and to learn the lessons of that dark episode of Malaysian history by pointing the way forward toward national reconciliation;

— An independent Press Council and Broadcasting Authority, whose members and Chair are seen to be truly independent, acceptable and respected by civil society;

— A Race Relations Act to outlaw racism, racial discrimination, hate crimes and other related intolerances and an Equal Opportunities Commission;

— Ratification of the International Convention on the Eradication of Racism, Racial Discrimination and all forms of Intolerance.

*Dr Kua Kia Soong is the Director of Suaram, a human rights group.

MAY 12 — When some talk of freedom of expression, what they really mean is that only they should have the right to say whatever they want, and no one else. It is those who lament the loudest over the lack of freedom of expression in Malaysia that would throw you behind bars should you disagree with them.

Take Penang Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, for example. He was referred to the state assembly’s Rights and Privileges Committee for saying that there would be a repeat of May 13 riots if people lost confidence in the police.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen demanded that he withdraw his statement. He was not spared even by MCA or Gerakan who censured him for his “seditious” remarks.

This is ironic considering that just about a week ago, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng launched the first Speakers’ Corner in Malaysia allowing people to exercise their rights to freedom of expression.

Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have mourned so much over the country’s perceived lack of freedom of expression that they should just compose a dirge and play it at the Speakers’ Corner, instead of writing banal petitions.

PR’s censure of Azhar and the absence of NGOs defending him reveal the hypocrisy in their fight for freedom of expression. It shows that what they are fighting for is really the right to voice only their thoughts, or the opinions of others whose agendas are the same as theirs.

If they are sincere about wanting freedom of expression, they should wholeheartedly defend the rights of another to express a dissenting opinion instead of punishing them for it. Fighting for the right of someone to agree with you isn’t fighting for freedom of expression. It is merely a weak attempt to make yourself sound louder than you really are so you have a fighting chance with the school bully.

Besides railing against the government for allowing police reports over statements on the caning Muslim women that allegedly cause disunity and hatred, NGOs should also fight with equal intensity for the right to mention May 13. Otherwise, they should not call themselves believers in freedom of expression.

Castigating someone for bringing up May 13 reminded me of George Orwell’s totalitarian state in his book “1984,” where the State destroys words in order to prevent people from thinking of incendiary concepts like freedom and rebellion. If people cannot express such thoughts in words, then they are unable to revolt.

If May 13 was removed from our vocabulary, would people be emboldened in their battle for freedom of expression as there would no longer be threats to detain one under the Sedition Act for mentioning racial issues? Perhaps, the perception of race as a “sensitive” issue may not even occur if we could not mention May 13.

But then, Barisan Nasional (BN) has always referred to it through thinly-veiled references and ominous threats of anarchy should anyone bring up racial issues. So, unlike Orwell’s Big Brother government, BN would be perfectly happy in keeping May 13 in our mental dictionaries as it can spread nebulous fears about race and religion even 41 years later, thus supporting its race-based existence.

May 13 is not deleted from memory completely. Neither can it be voiced out in the open without censure. May 13 remains in the recesses of one’s memory, like a shameful incest.

Instead of destroying the hold of such an event over Malaysians by bringing it out in the open, PR and civil society groups play right into the hands of BN when they punish those who mention it, or fail to defend them.

Not only do they unwittingly ensure the continuity of racial politics, they have also shown themselves incapable of embracing freedom of expression beyond their narrow agendas.

* Boo Su-Lyn is a reporter with The Malaysian Insider.

Jan 6 2011, B Nantha Kuma

Tamil foundation threatens street protests and calls for resignation of Indians from the Cabinet. Indian anger mounts over Interlok

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tamil Foundation has given the Education Ministry an ultimatum: withdraw the controversial SPM literature text Interlok or face nationwide street demonstrations.

It also urged Indians who are ministers, deputy ministers, MPs and senators to quit their positions to express their anger.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Tamil Foundation president K Uthayasurian complained that the Education Ministry had been unresponsive to calls for the withdrawal of the novel, which is compulsory reading for Malay literature students in Form Five.

Interlok, published in 1971, was written by national laureate Abdullah Hussain. It is about the daily struggles of the Malays, Chinese and Indians in pre-independence Malaya. Many Indian groups have said they found it offensive because it contains derogatory references to the community.

Uthayasurian said students who read the book would have a negative perception of Indians.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should read it before talking about 1Malaysia, he added. Muhyiddin is also the Education Minister.

A Vaithiyalingam, a former Hindhu Sangam president, also spoke at the press conference. He said the Indian community was disappointed with the Education Ministry for allowing the book to be used.

He noted that it refers to Indians as “black people” and “pariah” and claimed that some passages give the impression that Indians are dirty and make irresponsible husbands.

MIC Youth has also called for the book’s withdrawal. Its leader, T Mohan, said in a press statement that its inclusion in the literature list could be part of a hidden agenda to rewrite Malaysian history.

Mohan also said the book could undo the 1Malaysia campaign.