"The May 13 riots in 1969 was an unfortunate episode in Malaysia’s history in which lives were lost and properties destroyed as politics broke down into violence," said former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan.
"But thankfully, Malaysia has since moved forward as a nation in denouncing political violence," she said at a joint press conference today.
She said after the March 8, 2008 general election, attempts to trigger ethno-religious tensions and justify authoritarian controls have been resolutely defeated by condemnation by Malaysians of all ethno-religious and socio-cultural backgrounds.
Ambiga cited the cow-head protest last August and the desecration of places of worship in January this year, as evidence that many Malaysians are against provocative racial sentiments and those who propagate them.
"Today Malaysians have expressed disgust against politicians who bring issues relating to race," she said.
Condemning the "Melayu Bangkit" rally organised by Gerakan Kebangkitan Rakyat (Gertak), which was initially scheduled to be held yesterday, Ambiga questioned the true agenda and motive of the rally.
"No matter what the organisers may say or how they may deny about the intention of organising such a rally, Malaysians are not stupid (to believe) due to the theme of the rally, which is instigative in nature and the date it was planned to be held," she said.
She questioned the government’s stand on the rally, which was postponed to another date yet to be announced, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak asked to call off the rally for "security reasons".
"The government should have called off the rally because it was racist in nature and created uneasiness amongst other races in a multi-racial society," said Ambiga, who also questioned the involvement of a government agency in organising the rally.
"While freedom of speech and freedom of assembly for all political persuasions should be celebrated, any attempt to exploit the anniversary of May 13 to glorify political violence or instil fear is disgraceful and should be shunned by the public."
"In addition, any commemoration of the tragedy involving state funds and resources must be inclusive in both content and target group," Ambiga stressed.
Acknowledging that Malaysians today are better informed and active participants in politics, Ambiga said any attempt to mock or trigger another May 13, whether to subdue citizens or to seize power, may end in "complete political destruction of the culprits".
Meanwhile, lawyer and social activist Haris Ibrahim, who is the coordinator of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia project, called on the government to form a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' to find out the truth behind the dark incident. -- theSun
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