13 May
By The Nut Graph team
IT'S hard to imagine that it has been 40 years since the event that has so shaped and scarred our lives took place. 13 May 1969 is, to borrow from President Franklin D Roosevelt, a date that will live on in infamy, for Malaysians at least.
The riots in Kuala Lumpur and the bloody aftermath have become Malaysia's own bogey — a spectre that is wielded ever so often by politicians bent on using it for their own ends.
The events of 13 May ultimately led to the creation of the National Economic Plan (NEP) that has — for better or worse — reshaped Malaysian society to what it is now.
Yet, 40 years on, the fear of racial riots remains; the ghost of 13 May looms large in our collective consciousness. But few really know what actually transpired on that date. The whole event is shrouded in secrecy. Everything from the total number of deaths, to the masterminds behind the riots, is open to question.
What we need to ask is, does it really matter anymore? Isn't it time for us to move on, to show that we are no longer prisoners of our past?
Forty years on, Malaysians should be mature enough to talk about 13 May in a rational manner, and not let politicians hijack the discussion. Let's collectively throw off the cloak of fear that dominates discussion on the subject, and move towards forgiveness and reconciliation. Towards making this a home for all Malaysians free of fear of each other.
What do you think? Give us your six words on 13 May in the comments section below. Here are some from The Nut Graph team to get started.
Jacqueline Ann Surin:
Remember the untold May 13 stories.
Why can't we move on, please?
The politicians won't let us forget!
Shanon Shah:
A day to reflect and reconcile.
The myth that keeps on giving.
Apa yang sebenarnya berlaku hari itu?
Kau kunci tanahairku dalam tarikh itu.
If South Africa can move on...
Turn that negative into a positive!
Cindy Tham:
Negaraku. Rakyat hidup bersatu dan makmur.
Deborah Loh:
Learn from, not bury the past.
Move on from 13 May, BN.
Don't make it the bogey anymore.
We'll never know what really happened.
N Shashi Kala:
Not just another date in Malaysia.
Gan Pei Ling
13 May? *looks around* Seditious lah!
Chinese vs Malays? Malaysians vs politicians. 
See also:
Surviving 13 May
The Nut Graph — reclaiming 13 May.
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's genius, the Six Words On... section challenges readers to give us their comments about a current issue, contemporary personality or significant event in just six words. The idea is to get readers engaged in an issue that The Nut Graph identifies, while having fun and being creatively disciplined.
Comments are now closed for this article as per our policy
Jacqueline Ann Surin Posted: 13 May 09 : 3.58PM
Lebih baik bunuh prasangka daripada jiran.
Pat Lu Posted: 13 May 09 : 3.59PM
Off-topic, but it's a comment on a six-words entry: Spot on. It is indeed Malaysians vs. politicians.
Naoko Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.15PM
May 13 - Malaysia's still being raped.
40 years on, Malaysia's standing still.
May 13: Antiseptic and tears time!
Karcy Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.28PM
The day a government attacked us.
A government golem designed to intimidate.
Forgive all past trespasses. Never forget.
It didn't happen in Sarawak what!
No sex, much lies, no videotape.
Reclaim the truth with the internet!
walski69 Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.37PM
Move along, nothing to see here
Boldly leaving the past to history
Mere remembrance gets us nowhere fast
Time to right the regrettable wrongs
Living precariously on a misunderstood myth
Time to live for the future
May 13. Excess baggage. Leave behind.
Jonson Chong Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.41PM
Why can't we simply get along?
Jonson Chong Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.41PM
Let's live as brothers and sisters.
wijn Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.44PM
Nasi lemak, yong taufoo, roti canai.
Jonson Chong Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.44PM
May God bless us -- ALL Malaysians.
shahrulazlan Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.46PM
The rakyat's united; politicians divide us.
Nicholas.C Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.55PM
Slay the specter of Thirteenth May!
Jonson Chong Posted: 13 May 09 : 4.57PM
I am Malaysian. Are you Malaysian?
Yasmin Posted: 13 May 09 : 5.58PM
Blame, blame, blame. Still no acknowledgment.
N Shashi Kala Posted: 13 May 09 : 6.14PM
"Can’t we all just get along?" (quoting Rodney King)
Alex TheBackpackr Posted: 13 May 09 : 6.23PM
Melayu, Cina, India, Punjabi, semua manusia!
Vikraman Posted: 13 May 09 : 6.28PM
We need Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
History forgotten, doomed to be repeated.
Unmask the murder, reclaim the facts.
Jen Posted: 13 May 09 : 7.27PM
Just another day in Sarawak, MALAYSIA
pilocarpine Posted: 13 May 09 : 8.57PM
1BLACK Malaysia, Democracy First, Elections Now
- from Wong Chin Huat
Hwa Shi-Hsia Posted: 13 May 09 : 9.40PM
Reading Horowitz's "The Deadly Ethnic Riot".
Steve McCoy Posted: 13 May 09 : 9.42PM
So terribly useful for racial politics
9/11 for Bush, 5/13 for Umno
It happened then ... so what now?
Sivin Kit Posted: 13 May 09 : 10.33PM
Understand 1969 backwards; live Malaysia forward.
(re-adapted with thanks to Soren Kierkegaard)
Sivin Kit Posted: 13 May 09 : 11.11PM
Bangsa Malaysia, One People, One Nation.
chinhuatw Posted: 14 May 09 : 1.38AM
Why? Umno lost 10% peninsular votes.
Why? Without crisis, PAS would overtake.
Why? PAS didn't eye the non-Malays.
May 13 caused NEP? Opposite direction.
chinhuatw Posted: 14 May 09 : 1.41AM
We need Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Forget history never. Forgive we must.
It's funeral time after 40 years.
Yvonne Young Posted: 14 May 09 : 1.59AM
The truth shall set us free.
Phua Kai Lit Posted: 14 May 09 : 8.00AM
Set up Truth and Reconciliation Committee!
MattF Posted: 14 May 09 : 10.09AM
Can't move forward without reviewing past.
terri Posted: 14 May 09 : 12.07PM
Did Umno ever change? Beats me.
kuntakintae Posted: 14 May 09 : 12.11PM
National holiday to adjust and accommodate.
myop101 Posted: 14 May 09 : 2.06PM
513 is history, let's move forward
Hean Posted: 14 May 09 : 5.20PM
An Umno scheme to justify NEP
Desperate measure by a desperate Umno
paul.Btze Posted: 14 May 09 : 8.08PM
8 March exorcised 13 May already.
yeen Posted: 14 May 09 : 10.28PM
Past tragedy revisited to scare us.
Jacqueline Ann Surin Posted: 14 May 09 : 11.28PM
"Ketuanan Melayu" keeps 13 May alive.
Sivin Kit Posted: 15 May 09 : 12.08AM
I agree with Wong Chin Huat!
susan loone Posted: 15 May 09 : 12.52AM
Sorry, May 13 no longer scary.
Myths no facts, lies no truth.
Will we ever know its instigator?
It was the day Malaysia bled.
Be gone! Get lost! Good riddance!
No reruns please. Love one another!
40 years pass, it still hurts.
Bury the past, move on please.
Forget May 13, remember May 7!
I could go on and on... :)
The Lord Panda Posted: 15 May 09 : 11.20AM
Keeps Biro Tata Negara in business!
Thomas Lee Posted: 15 May 09 : 7.11PM
I was one month short of my 21st birthday on 13 May 1969, and I will never forget how I was escorted safely home by some Malay Malaysian men when I had to pass through the Malay section of Lorong Selamat (the Macalister Road end) on my way home on my Vespa 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 Malay Malaysians being told by Malay Malaysian politicians that the rich Chinese Malaysians caused them the economic suffering, and the poor Chinese Malaysians being told by Chinese Malaysian politicians that the powerful Malay Malaysians in government caused them to suffer.
The riot was triggered off by the then massive suffering of both the poor Malay Malaysians and poor Chinese Malaysians.
Who's to blame?
Not the Malay Malaysians. Not the Chinese Malaysians.
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 Malay Malaysians and poor Chinese Malaysians.
That's what I believe 13 May is all about.
By the way, 13 May is also my wedding anniversary.
menj Posted: 15 May 09 : 8.01PM
We know who were those responsible.
May 13th do not repeat it.
Jason Sim Posted: 15 May 09 : 11.07PM
You remember May 13th? I don't.
Koh Chong Meng Posted: 16 May 09 : 3.37PM
History will repeat itself unless the facts are known and people allowed to take measures
K S Ong Posted: 17 May 09 : 12.28AM
Some started it, none found guilty.
freedom Posted: 17 May 09 : 3.31PM
May 13 1969, Tun abdul Razak.
Jy Posted: 18 May 09 : 4.11AM
The date that made Malaysians 'kiasu'.
Ang Tan Loong Posted: 18 May 09 : 5.58PM
the truth of May 13 untold
james au Posted: 18 May 09 : 6.59PM
May 13, May 07, same family.
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 19 May 09 : 7.41PM
The day we lost our independence
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 19 May 09 : 7.44PM
The day racism was given legitimacy
Hwa Shi-Hsia Posted: 20 May 09 : 11.28AM
A ghost from before my birth.
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 20 May 09 : 12.27PM
The day racism became national policy
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 20 May 09 : 12.48PM
Get out! don't call Malaysia motherland!
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 20 May 09 : 12.51PM
Why can't I call Malaysia motherland?
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 23 May 09 : 11.48AM
Learn from history to repeat errors?
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 23 May 09 : 11.51AM
Asians hypocritically accuse westerners of racism
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 23 May 09 : 11.53AM
West openly discuss racism to reform
Philip Selvaraj Posted: 23 May 09 : 12.06PM
The devil whispered and somebody obeyed.
