May 13 Remembrance

Focus on creating a mature society

A DAY like May 13, 1969 needs to be remembered, simply so that we do not make the same mistakes as our forefathers which led to this black day in our nation’s history. Many may not subscribe to the prime minister’s view that there need not be any official commemoration of the day’s events which gave birth to the New Economic Policy and affirmative action. Just like how some countries observe the Holocaust of World War II, a Racial Harmony Day on May 13, may seem like a good idea to emphasise that "never again" should we go down this dark road to death and destruction. But then again, we already have Aug 31, and now Sept 16, to mark our nationhood and oneness.
Hence one can understand why the prime minister does not feel the need to have another date to remind ourselves that our strength is in our multi-ethnicity.
This is because, there may be some quarters who would rather focus on May 13, than Merdeka Day or Malaysia Day. And seeing that there are parties who are looking to divide the nation and focus on the negative aspects of May 13 for political mileage, the prime minister probably thought it was in the best interest of the nation that this dark chapter remains in the back recesses of our memories.
Perhaps the focus should be creating a society which is mature enough to handle history and to counter those who try to exploit it for selfish reasons. We cannot run from our past, not even the dark ones. Emphasis must be on telling it as it is. But the verdict is still out on whether we as Malaysians are able to handle the truth – even the bitter truth and capitalise on it for the betterment of the nation.
sun2surf says