Daim doesn’t think Malaysians learnt from May 13

Sheridan Mahavera Vasudevan Vamadevan Sheridan Mahavera, Vasudevan Vamadevan Updated 7 years ago · Published on 13 May 2019 11:00AM · 7 Comments

Flowers at the gravesite for victims of the May 14, 1969 racial riots in Sg Buloh, Selangor. The incident was one of the darkest periods in the nation’s history. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 13, 2019.

MALAYSIANS have not learnt from the May 13 racial riots 50 years ago, as there are people who keep bringing up the spectre of ethnic violence to divide the nation, said Daim Zainuddin.

As Malaysia marks the 50th anniversary of May 13, there has been a resurgence of racial and religious rhetoric at the same time Pakatan Harapan is commemorating its first year in power this month, said Daim, chairman of the Council of Eminent Persons.

Those instigating racial supremacy today choose to be obsessed with May 13 instead of the success story of Malaysians standing together against the British colonists and later on against the communists and Indonesian army, he said.

“We fought together to save this country, we succeeded, as long as we are united, for a common cause, we will succeed,” Daim told The Malaysian Insight.

“But again, we have a group who says ‘our position is threatened’. We are threatened because we are not united. If we are together, nobody can threaten us, confront us. We fought together and won.

“Why are we sending the wrong message to our children? Why? We are together here. History is history, we have to accept reality, we fought the communists together, as long as we’re united, we’re okay.”

Despite the long history of communities living peacefully together, the voices of racism have returned, Daim said.

“Now (it’s) beginning again, this is dangerous (message) to our children,” he said referring to the racial and religious rhetoric that has besieged the administration.

Opposition parties, Umno and PAS, are creating and riding on a wave of Malay nationalism they hope will help them build up support among Malays – who make up more than 60% of voters – against the PH government.

Umno, PAS and their allies are hoping that this wave, which hypes up imagined fears of Malays being disenfranchised, will propel them into federal power in the 15th general election.

Daim Zainuddin urges the Malays to look forward, not back, if they want to succeed. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 13, 2019.

Too much rhetoric

Officially, 196 people were believed to have been killed in Kuala Lumpur riots during May 13, which happened a day after a fiercely contested general election.

It led to the declaration of a national state of emergency and the country came under the rule of caretaker government until 1971 while Parliament was suspended.

The incident also led to prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman stepping down to be replaced by Abdul Razak Hussein.

“It was just too much political rhetoric. All these things started much earlier, it started in the 1959 election and then 1964. I have done the research, on how it started, how it built up… the campaign was for more than a month,” Daim said.

Tunku Abdul Rahman often thought of himself as the “happiest prime minister” but he didn’t realise the undercurrents of hate brewing among Malaysians, Daim said.

“He didn’t realise the enemies. Everybody played up to the full, racial sentiments. There was the rally, an election officer was killed, demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur,” said Daim, who, at the time, was in Japan on a business trip.

Daim urged Malaysians, especially Malays, to look towards the future instead of dwelling on the past.

“Malays like to look back on the past but the past is history. So let it be a lesson learned. No point talking about the Malacca empire being successful because if it were really successful it would have not been conquered.

“Just think of the present, the future, how do we build up this country?” he said, adding that Malays have no choice but to accept the present multi-ethnic make-up of the country and move forward with others.

“We are together, we are still in this country… that stood together and fought together. Either we fall together, or we succeed together, there is no other choice.” – May 13, 2019.

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Comments

  • Let's shout out loud "Malaysians' Malaysia!". We are one!

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Tu pasal melayu mundur
    Because everything tgk past
    But never look forward

    Posted 7 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • On my spouse side we had a relative with a bullet hole in her leg. Her story was it happened at Majestic Theatre in Pudu. They were confined in the theatre. When they were told it was safe to go out, the uniformed people outside were shooting them. Everyone shouted,"Pretend to die.". She did that and was thrown into a lorry and sent to the mortuary, where those still breathing were treated. In rural Sg. Pelek, where I was working the Malay villagers really looked after all their Chinese neighbours, providing them food and even shelter.

    Posted 7 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • Start instilling the patriotism spirit in all schools. Make our children proud to be Malaysians and willing to sacrifice for the country. When people are patriotic they will unite for the country.

    Posted 7 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Only inclusiveness can guarantee peace and harmony.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Be precise Daim!!!!!. It is not Malaysian who have not learnt the May 13th but UmnoPAS who are stiriing up the next May 13th. Every rakyat knows that and why were they allowed to continue in their daily racism and bigotry beats us.!!!. It seems that the 1969 May 13th was the creative ideas of devious Politician trying to seize power and now we have from the same party itself trying to relive up the incidents. What it does tells !!! Do they want to learn ??? No !! they do not intend too as they are power crazy as the previous politicians who did the last job. What goes around come around !!!. Those years back the economic imbalance was not that hugh a disparity as stated and staged by those who stirred the shits. It was only a guise to displace TAR. Now it is totally a different ball game as the economic well beings of "have" in the Malay race are significant and to create mayhem with the nons as an excuse to wrest power will be detrimental. UmnoPAS have yet to realise that the losses of economic, political and social well being will be heavier and could wipe out everyone in what they have attained through out the years. The Malays do not have the ability and resilency to bounce back. It will be a total destructions to the country. So daim it is nice to talk and comment about but uselessly to the wrong audience for the the trageted group should be dealt with harsh actions to learn.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Its Dumshit umno/pas making from day one.....where are the coming from the corrupt politicians the power crazy leaders the racial and religious gangster.....what is so important for them. Just Dont Be Blind by Them.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply