Tale of three women: 13 May 1969

The racial clash of 13th May 1969 continues to be known as dark time in our nation's past.

Our history books teach us the facts of what happened on that dreaded day, but what did it feel like to be alive then?

Video and story by Temily Tianmay Jaya Gopan.

Three women of different backgrounds take us down memory lane and share with us the thoughts,concerns and emotions they experienced on that unforgettable day.

Mrs Kanthamani Ramasamy was in Alor Setar, Kedah when the riots happened. Her two sons were studying in Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. As a full-time mother of ten children, her experience is based on the information she heard from her husband and children.

Mrs Lily Chinniah is a former teacher and actress who appeared in movies such as Esok Masih Ada directed by Jin Shamsuddin. She was seven months pregnant and living in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur with her three children when the racial clash occurred.

Dr Rohana Ariffin is the acting president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia and was a student in Universiti Malaya back in 1969. She moved from her room in Petaling Jaya to live in Kampung Baru with her family prior to the riots for fear of her own safety.

These three grandmothers also share their views on whether Malaysia has achieved greater unity.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tale
• of
• three
• may
• 13
• 1969
• malaysia
• malay
• chinese
• indian

[BayerMcquenzie]

Before BN time we are already 1Malaysia and everyone live peacefully. We never have racial problem until BN use religion and racial issue to gain support. BN always use racial issue to gain power. They want to be in power desperately and they will lie and create a lot of story to mislead the Rakyat! They are using "divide and rule" tactic. They divide and then they rule group by group. If all race unite then BN will have no chance of winning! We must unite as one to fight this corrupted BN !!!

[excal90]

I don't really care about races now, but take a note to the "government", I do not believe that our economic policy is working well. I still see poor Malays and Chinese and Indians living a hard life, while the already rich and "well connected" individuals gets richer. Nobody is born to be a laborer or a slave to others and yet daily, some will be having RM2 meals and some will be dining in fine restaurants. I suppose this is a difficult question all over the world, the equality of humanity.

[shysuria]

Cian paling banyak rasis kat Tanah Melayu ni. Cina yang mengajar Melayu rasis kat Tanah Melayu ni. Siapa yang taknak bersatu. Siapa yang tak boleh terima bangsa lain. Orang cina nak apa lagi daripada Melayu???? Nak kitorang anggap korang raja???? Atau nak kitorang sembah kamu??? Atau nak kitorang terima cara hidup kamu???? 13th May will again happen!

[shysuria]

DAPig always celaka. Till today....

[MrKeyLeer]

apa kejadah telinga kiri aku ja dengar ni .. pelir tol

[1234katkit]

betul betul wa caya sama lu...

[merahboy69]

don't let the powers that be tear this country apart. fight back with your will, belief in equality and conviction of character. nobody can force you to be racist. fight the power. hidup hidup

[adamsan87]

@excal90 life's a bitch ya know

[excal90]

@adamsan87 perhaps, and depends on how origin is defined? I am born here, my parents were born here, my grandparents were born here..

[adamsan87]

@excal90 that should be because we are bumi..,the origins should have advantages like the other countries.no issue there

[benjaminzer]

Well in everywhere we go, you'll find these political, racial, or religious issues. This shows how insignificant men are. From indulgences to big authority, they can't handle it properly at all......