Muhyiddin: No official request to declassify May 13 documents
No formal requests to declassify official documents on the May 13, 1969 riots have been received by the government, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin clarified today.
Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya, Muhyiddin said that it is merely the view of some quarters that such requests have been made...
No formal requests to declassify official documents on the May 13, 1969 riots have been received by the government, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin clarified today.
Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya, Muhyiddin said that it is merely the view of some quarters that requests have been made.
The minister appeared to not be in favour of such requests, however, stressing the government is looking to the "future."
"That (May 13) was the past. We are now looking at the present and the future. Obviously, nobody wants to celebrate May 13, as you (media) say it's the 50th anniversary.
"What is important is to learn from the past and make sure Malaysia will not face the same problem in the future," he said.
"What is the point of raising these old stories? These should serve as a lesson, and more importantly, the government should focus on what we are doing now and in the future.
"As the new government, Pakatan Harapan promises to be fair (to everybody). We don't want to see our country in chaos because of racial and religious issues," he added.
Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong and May 13 Committee spokesperson Tang Ah Chai had previously called for the May 13 documents to be declassified.
In 2007, Kua had written a book titled "May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969."
He republished the book this year to commemorate the dark history.
“Perhaps now that the supposedly ‘new’ PH government is in power, it is time to act like a mature and enlightened democracy and declassify the official secrets in the vaults of the Cabinet and the Special Branch department," said Kua.
He also proposed setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to uncover the culprits responsible for orchestrating the pogrom, to identify and document the victims, to pay respect to all those who lost their lives.
The tragic May 13 broke out three days after the 1969 general election where the Chinese-dominated opposition parties DAP and Gerakan had made electoral gains.
Official reports claimed a total of 196 were killed, but British diplomats at the time estimated it to be around 800.
