Story of May 13, 1969

Story by Thomas Lee ( Taken from Malaysiakini )

I was one month short of my 21st birthday on May 13, 1969, and I will never forget how I was escorted safely home by some Malay men when I had to pass through the Malay section of Lorong Selamat (the Macalister Road end) in Penang on my way home on my Vasper scooter. One of them even rode pillion on my scooter to ensure I was not attacked. The riot was not racial. It was the poor Malays being told by Malay politicians that the rich Chinese caused them the economic suffering, and the poor Chinese being told by Chinese politicians that the powerful Malays in government caused them to suffer. The riot was triggered off by the then massive suffering of both the poor Malays and poor Chinese. Who to blame? Not the Malays. Not the Chinese. But the happy-go-lucky ‘tidak apa’ government of the day, which didn't have any concrete plans and policies to uplift the quality of life of the poor Malays and poor Chinese. That's what I believe May 13 was all about. By the way, May 13 is also my wedding anniversary.