01/01: Malaysia cannot afford another May 13, says DPM

(Daily Express) - MALAYSIA cannot afford another bloody May 13 because it will only hurt the country and the people.

Deputy PM Datuk Seri Najib said this is why the Government is doing all it can to avoid the recurrence of the nation's most painful episode.

May 13, 1969, was a black mark in the history of Malaysia when race riots mainly between the Chinese and Malays occurred at the nation's capital.

They were generally dissatisfied about certain socio-political issue and it resulted in the deaths of 196 people and subsequently a major reform on the country's economic policy.

Najib said street demonstrations can easily turn racial and that if the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) insists on its agenda and the people at Kampung Baru in KL came out, it would be disastrous.

"We cannot afford another May 13 and the Government will ensure there is no more May 13."

The government is willing to offer any stadium in KL for unsatisfied groups to carry out their gathering but does not want to see any protests on the streets since it would only inconvenience the people.

However, he said the groups refused the Government offer and insisted on carrying out their demonstrations on the streets that later turned violent.

The Government, he said, also had to take action for the sake of public interest. Najib said that if the group concerned had connection with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), it certainly has impact on national security.

"That is why we took action, including the ISA, if they have an agenda to see racial dispute happening," he said, adding the ISA could be used as a pre-emptive legislation to prevent something from happening.

"If bad things happen, it has impact on national interest and also the image of the country."