November 10, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — An editorial in Umno’s Utusan Malaysia today described the May 13, 1969 racial riots as a sacred day for Malaysia and warned DAP to recognise its significance.
The newspaper’s deputy editor-in-chief Zaini Hassan said in his weekly column that the riots were a blessing in disguise, otherwise “wealthy businesses and the professional classes would be controlled by one race only.”
He also credited the riots with overseas scholarships for Bumiputeras and their businessmen.
Zaini pointed out that the DAP Penang state government had acted unjustly against state Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, suspending him from the Penang assembly for citing the May 13 incident in his speech.
“Why is Lim Guan Eng so afraid of people using the historical word May 13? It is a sacred day in the country, because of that day the people of various races in the country could be restructured to be more peaceful and prosperous,” said Zaini.
“Because of that day, the New Economic Policy was formulated,” he added.
Zaini added that “if DAP is fated to rule Malaysia (May Allah protect us) the ISA (Internal Security Act) will be strengthened.”
The May 13 riots that took place after the 1969 general election resulted in a declaration of a state of Emergency and the suspension of Parliament.
It remains the country's bloodiest race clash with hundreds reportedly killed in rioting mainly between Malay and Chinese groups.
In the general election that year the Umno-led Alliance lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament. It was later replaced by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition with many opposition parties joining the three original Alliance members of Umno, MCA and MIC.
Two years after the riots, the government introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP) to address the economic divisions that had been blamed for the clashes.
Early this month Azhar was suspended for six months from the state assembly after he refused to retract allegedly seditious remarks made at an assembly sitting earlier this year.
Azhar, who is Penaga assemblyman, was accused of uttering apparently seditious words and issuing May 13 threats during a speech in the assembly by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on May 7.
He had warned of May 13-style racial riots and suggested the army take over the functions of the police if the latter had lost the confidence of the people.
The Umno man was referred to the assembly’s Rights and Privileges Committee after a motion tabled by Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat).
The suspension had been recommended by Lim and conveyed to the assembly by Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain.
However Zaini claimed today that the DAP’s opposition to the pro-Bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP) had resulted in the party’s attempt to erase the May 13 riot from national history.
“I am not sure if DAP hates the NEP so much that it refuses to hear the date May 13 being mentioned,” said Zaini.
“Guan Eng should not have been so fast in punishing the opposition leader. Azhar is much needed in the Guan Eng administration for check and balance,” he added.
Zaini also called on Azhar to propose to the federal government to educate students on May 13.
“Azhar should have also suggested to the Malaysian government for the sacred day May 13 to be incorporated in the compulsory Malaysian History subject,” said Zaini.
“Therefore, if the May 13 ‘volcanic eruption’ did not take place in 1969 in Chow Kit Road and Kampung Baru, it could have erupted anytime now if not handled well,” said Zaini.
“If it happens, it would be in bigger magnitude and more terrifying,” he added.
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