Off Route Parade Caused May 13 Riots Says New Book

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Gen Zamrose Mohd Zain looks on as the Royal Malay Regiment Officers Club president Brig-Gen (rtd) Ahmad Zaki Mahmud presents a copy of the book to Mohammed Hanif Omar. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The victory parade by political parties which deviated from the original route after the 1969 general election was among the causes of the May 13 racial riots, reveals a new book published by the army.
The book “May 13, 1969 Racial Riots: A Security Perspective”, which was published by the Royal Malay Regiment Officers Club, also discloses that apart from party members, the victory parade was attended by triad members and communist agents.
The procession had not followed the permitted route and took a path through the Malay-dominated Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur, uttering insults and criticism as they marched on.
Following that, the villagers organised a procession to counter the victory parade, which led to the May 13 riots, according to the author of the book, Maj-Gen (rtd) Nordin Yusuf.
Army chief Gen Zamrose Mohd Zain said the book should be read by the current and future generations to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
He said the incident, which was a black chapter in the history of racial unity in Malaysia, must not be allowed to happen again as it was detrimental to the country.
“I congratulate the writer for his noble efforts in writing this historical event and including the role of the army and the Royal Malay Regiment,” he said at the launch ceremony held at Wisma Perwira Tentera Darat at Sungai Besi prime camp here today.
Also present were former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Hanif Omar and Royal Malay Army Regiment Officers Club president Brig-Gen (rtd) Ahmad Zaki Mahmud.
In addition, Zamrose said the incident also saw the professionalism demonstrated by the Malaysian Armed Forces when power was handed back to the government after public order was restored. - FMT

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