13 May 1969

If we want to study history thoroughly, the first thing that we have to do is study all the details thoroughly. This included the prime source (such as documents from archive), secondary source (books and articles written by academician) and the debatable oral source.

It is quite hard for me to look on all the materials in local and England archive concerning about 13 May 1969, but I do have the opportunity to read some books including memoirs and academic readings either from well known historians or the grass root people who experience the tragic event.

I must said that, all academician using different approach to study 13 May 1969, Kua Kia Siong in his well known monograph focusing on what he called “unclassified” documents from England archive while former UKM lecturer, James Ongkili studied 13 May as part of the process in nations building in Malaysia.

Tunku Abdul Rahman who is the Prime Minister at the time described in his memoir how the tragic event changed his life and the politics in Malaysia. Among the first badge writers of 13 May, Leon Comber however in his book on the same event, start with the arrival of Chinese and Indians into Tanah Melayu.

Beside that, the well known ex-Universiti Malaya lecturer, Ramlah Adam in her Biography of Tunku Abdul Rahman also touched on the 13 May tragic and its impact to Tunku.

Indeed, 13 May incident is a racial riot among Malays and Chinese which we can (and should) trace the root cause of it since the arrival of Chinese at Tanah Melayu.

Therefore when we study the issue, we must not over look this factor. Bear in mind that, we cannot make history in one day! The outcome of a major history event is an accumulative of several minor events.

In the first world war, historians agreed that the murdered of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne as the immediate factors of the war, but it is also undeniable that the murder is not the sole factor. Political scientist would analysis the power imbalance in Europe. Sociologist might look at the ethnic rivalries at that continent, while economist will focus on economic imperialism and trade barriers during that time.

Therefore, we must not over look any factors when studying the details of 13 May and I would like to draw some points from some writers on the tragic event. All the points however is relate to the outcome of 1969 elections.

Ongkili

A Kadazan from Sabah, James Ongkili in one of the chapter in his book wrote comprehensively on the opposition party parade after the 1969 election. According to him, when the parade which is made up of Chinese entering Kampung Baru, a Malay settlement in Kuala Lumpur, this causing uneasiness among Malay settlers.

Ongkili said, the parade shouted that the Chinese was the victor in the election while Malays should go back to kampung or get out from Kuala Lumpur. Some Chinese according to Ongkili even so excited that they put down their pants and “parade” the penis to the Malays.

Ongkili at the same time wrote about how Malays response to the parade.

Kua Kia Siong

Kua insist that the tragic event as planned by some extremist of UMNO including the notorious Harun Idris. Uneasy with the parade of opposition party, UMNO who is still a winner in the election hold another parade to celebrate their victory. For Kua, extremist from UMNO is the one to be blame.

He also pointed out that the security force during the emergency lean towards UMNO.

Leon Comber

If you like to read about the “soul stiring” thing during the tragic like how many kill and how they kill, Comber will definitely fail you. When I first glance on the first chapter, it really bored me with things that I seem to know but when I read and read deeper, it changed my mind totally. For me, this is the book that every Malaysian must read.

Likewise Ongkili, Comber never blamed the Chinese or Malays, he neither made is conclusion about the tragic. For him, 13 May is worth a look from the day Chinese landed on Tanah Melayu. How the inter-racial relations go on from time to time and how the major events like Japanese occupation and Malayan Union leaving major impact to the racial relations.

Tunku Abdul Rahman

The first Prime Minister of Malaysia see the tragic as an outcome of Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).


A Simple Conclusion

After reading several accounts of the tragic, the only thing I can conclude is that the immature people (both Malays and Chinese is to be blamed) for the tragic. It is time for us to think in a more mature manner, stop being annoying to others!