When May 13 occurred I was in the distant safety of the United Kingdom and watched some of the scenes shown on the BBC.
My family members were in Ipoh and they were unaffected except for the inconvenience of the curfews. Many of my classmates were students at MU but I have not had the chance to ask them how things were in those terrible days.
I did hear how some of the Sultans, especially the Sultan of Johor, went around and ordered the citizens not to create trouble and to calm matters.
Conspiracy theories have abounded since then but none were ever published until now when malaysiakini launched its book after research from the archives of the United Kingdom where documents are kept classified for 30 years.
Malaysia always boasts about helping poorer countries in Africa but this is one area where we can ask South Africa to help.
Immediately after that great man Nelson Mandela took power, the Truth and Reconcialition Commission was set up and it provided a major programme to help the country to recover from the ravages of years of apartheid.
Such a similar commission may also be good for Malaysia for if we do not learn from past mistakes, then history will repeat itself.
Some of the perpetrators of crimes may be dead but if you were a 25-year old at the time and you did something evil, you will be about 65-years old and almost due to meet your Creator.
It may be good for you to publicly acknowledge your crime and seek forgiveness from your victims or their families.
The government is the best resource to help bury the ghosts of May 13 if we have leaders courageous enough to confront the truth and rectify any policies that were wrongfully enacted so that Malaysia can once again get on the path of a fair deal for all Malaysians.
The NEP policies that were accepted by all Malaysians for various reasons were not supposed to become Never Ending Policies and today we can observe many examples of how good policies can become major problems where integrity is lacking among the those who implement the policies.
Already we have lost much talents and the much of the competitive edge that will enable the nation to progress in the new millenium.
It is time for all reasonable citizens to ponder how we can finally lay the ghosts of May 13 to rest.
God help us all to do what is right for Malaysia.
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2 comments:
Angus
I was in MU staying in the residential collage from May 10 1969 onwards.
I have many stories to tell about May 13 1969.
May 13 night -- the first time I donated blood at the University Hospital....
Too many stories tell...what I saw, heard first hand of ordinary people whose homes were burnt etc seeking refuge in the University campus and mothers worrying to death of their children because in the week of May 13th was the first day for Uni registration in MU and freshies were coming to UNI while the seniors were due to come in the week for the first term of the year.
chowkam
thanks for sharing.
It may be good to tell your many stories about May13 for other Malaysians to know.
Can even write a book if you wish to do so.
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