The story of Mohsin, Michael, and friendship after May 13

When school reopened in the aftermath of May 13, 1969, Malay, and Chinese students reunited against the backdrop of national unease. 

Classmates Mohsin Abdullah and Michael Chang both lived in Kampung Baru, where the riot broke out.

Both witnessed and experienced harrowing incidents during the days of mayhem, but despite the atmosphere of prejudice outside, their experiences and the brief separation during the days of curfew did not impact their friendship, which remains strong to this day.

When Michael returned to St John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur, as a Form Two student, he was living at Chin Woo Stadium along with hundreds of other refugees displaced by the riot.

His family fled their home minutes after the violence broke out – their quick thinking saved their lives.

Later, Mohsin would see his classmate’s home razed to the ground.

Michael never returned to Kampung Baru -- except as an adult, and with Mohsin.

“I took him to see the site of where his home was. He stood there with his sister. His parents are no longer around,” Mohsin said.

‘Defending Chinese neighbours from outsiders’

Mohsin recalled the sorrow he felt as a teenager seeing “outsiders” burn down the family homes of his friends.

He said unlike the Kampung Baru today, the Kampung Baru of his childhood was also home to Chinese villagers who stayed in brick homes and shophouses where they operated small businesses.

And on the day of the riot, Kampung Baru was suddenly packed with hordes of Malay men who were not from the area, he said.

He knew they were not from there because some of them knocked on doors seeking for a place to stay for the night.

Mohsin (photo) said he saw some of them attack the home of another classmate - Teh Jit Siang - but their Malay neighbours came to the Teh family’s defence.

“If you live there, you know who your neighbours are. So, when some outsiders come and attack them with parang, the Kampung Baru Malays defended their (Chinese) neighbours. Even at the time of such hatred, people took care of one another,” he said.

The Teh family managed to escape, he said, but soon after that their home was also burnt down.

Michael's escape

Michael said on the day of the riot, there was a commotion and he and other youngsters on the street ran home thinking a gang fight broken out – a common occurrence at the time.

“We started closing all the doors. Then we saw someone come out of the Malay house behind us -- he was carrying a bundle like he was carrying a baby. But it wasn’t a baby, they were parangs,” he said.

It was then that six of them - his mother, three sisters, Michael and his brother - jumped into their family car.

There was not enough room in the car, so they left their father and eldest sister behind. It would be three weeks after the riot before the family learnt the two had survived.

His brother floored the accelerator and sped through attacking mobs. Passing Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman on the way to their aunt’s place in Old Klang Road, Michael(photo) saw people running everywhere - “In front of us, behind us, on either side, everywhere”.

By the time they arrived, the body of the car was riddled with dents and holes, and their hair was covered with shattered glass.

“I don’t know what kind of weapon could have made such holes. One hole in the windshield was two inches wide. Imagine if my brother had gone a little bit faster or a little bit slower. It could have hit his hand, his stomach, or his head. Who knows?” he said.

A teacher’s wisdom

Yet, the terrifying incident and the difficulties the family faced being homeless for at least the following nine months, did not foment animosity against Malays in the heart of the young Michael.

In class at St John’s Institution, he said, things quickly regained a sense of normalcy.

“Maybe it was because we were too young - just Form Two. Maybe things would have been more tense if we were in Form Five. Still, the student body and teachers were made up of various races,” said Michael, who is now an accountant.

“It was an unfortunate incident, but throughout my years growing up I never had any problems with Malay, Indian, or even Chinese friends. None at all. So I didn’t have this (hatred) in my heart.

“They didn’t do anything wrong and the trouble makers were not all Malays. In fact, the troublemakers were also just a small group,” he added.

A razed home in Kampung Baru. This photo was taken soon after the rounds of violence. 

Mohsin credits the boys’ ability to overcome the hatred that had engulfed many, to the wisdom and composure of their class teacher Rene Chang.

Mohsin said Rene left no room for prejudice in the classroom, despite himself being a victim of the riot.

Renee, too, was a resident of Kampung Baru and his home was nothing but ashes once the violence subsided, Mohsin said.

“He could have treated us with prejudice, but he was always fair to everyone, and for that, I am very grateful,” Mohsin said. - Mkini