The start was the May 13, 1969, incident. The Sino-Malay sectarian violence in Kuala Lumpur occurred in the aftermath of the 1969 general election in which opposition parties made gains. It led to a declaration of a state of emergency and the establishment of the Majlis Gerakan Negara (Mageran), a caretaker government between 1969 and 1971.

I would like to forget the incident because I was very young and right in the eye of the storm in Jalan Hale (now Jalan Raja Abdullah), Kampung Baru. A stray bullet hit my uncle’s room on the top floor.

I am not petrified but it troubles me when some people who were not even there or not even born yet are today calling for the opening up of what really happened then. The trauma still lingers within me and I am very sure survivors and the families of those who vanished do not want to be reminded every so often, too. Many people may have drowned in their own tears.

Oh, I forgot. There was also sunshine and a silver lining along the way.

It was in May, too, many years ago that I got married to the sunshine of my life and the apple of my eye. 

Some believe the previous government would forever stay in their hearts and rule for another 1,000 years but a year ago, at the 14th general election in May, Malaysians made history and started a new beginning by removing it. There seems to be hope for a better Malaysia and the transition went well, with some small hiccups. 

In recent days, our former colonial masters experienced political turmoil. Its prime minister, Theresa May, resigned after three years of trying and failing to pull Britain out of the European Union. She left a message: “To succeed, he or she will have to find consensus in parliament where I have not; such a consensus can only be reached if those on all sides of the debate are willing to compromise.” 

Brexit is not an event but a legal process. For the record, prior to the referendum, she campaigned to remain in the EU. 

In short, Brexit has shades of white supremacy, with British politics becoming more polarised, as well as the global intensification of right-wing nationalism.

We are hearing something similar at home; a clamouring for supremacy. 

I will then be petrified. One side wanting to institutionalise Malay Supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu) while other groups are calling for their “racial” interests to be protected. Racism, expressed in the form of nostalgia, bigotry and xenophobia, is damaging. Racism is the problem and anti-racism is the solution.

We cannot afford this as we move towards developed-nation status. Brexit has so far tarnished political, economic and social life in the UK.

Remember May’s message on finding consensus and compromise on all sides of the debate. 

Sorry, forgot another one. The song First of May is one of my all-time favourite and incidentally, was released in 1969. “When I was small, the Christmas trees were tall… Now we are tall and Christmas trees are small… We used to love while others used to play… And you don’t ask the time of day… But you and I, our love will never die…”

Now that we are tall, let us walk and stand tall to achieve greater heights together with confidence.

What say you?

Goodbye May, see you next year, InshaaAllah. – May 28, 2019.

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.