The May 13 Tragedy

This Report has been prepared with the full realisation that important matters must no longer be swept under the carpet and that the facts of May 13 should be made known to the public. Furthermore, it has been written with the conviction that the objective of national unity must be confronted squarely, and the alternatives before us decided upon sincerely and courageously. The course of our Nation so charted must be pursued with the united efforts of all loyal Malaysians resolutely, with courage and confidence.

It is intended after the publication of this Report to invite representatives of various groups in the country— political, religious, economic and others—to serve on a Consultative Council, where issues affecting our national unity will be discussed fully and frankly. In this way it is hoped to reach an understanding and agreement on these national issues that would ensure the future peace, security and unity of our country and that the May 13 tragedy would not recur.

I ask every citizen to give serious thought to this objective so that Malaysia will continue to prosper in peace.

Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Hussein.
Director of Operations

 

C O N T E N T S

Preface
Introduction

Part One—AN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1.  Pre-war Malayan Society
2.  Post-war British Policy
3.  MPAJA Terror
4.  The 1948 Emergency
5.  Communist Comeback

Part Two—THE TRAGEDY

6.  Uncertainty and Mistrust
7.   Island Confrontation
8.  Petty Argument
9.  Racial Politics
10. Secret Societies and Politics
11. Engineered Tension
12. "Victory" Marches
13. Defiance
14. Reaction
15. May 13
16. Rumours and the Unexpected
17. Joint Operations
18. Coloured Reports and the Facts
19. Foreign Press and the Maoists

Part Three-THE TASKS AHEAD

20. The Barriers
21. The Choices
22. Constitutional Democracy and National Identity
23. Appendix.