Anwar ticks off May 13 bully Muhyiddin: Use Ramadan to foster understanding NOT fear

KAJANG - Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should foster understanding and charity instead of planting fear during the fasting month, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said tonight.

The opposition leader chided Muhyiddin for raising the spectre of the May 13, 1969 racial clashes that saw hundreds killed, noting that Muslims were encouraged to practise charity and forgiveness during Ramadan.

“We shouldn’t inculcate the culture of fear and this is a month to promote the tradition of understanding and compassion,” Anwar told reporters after evening prayers at a mosque here.

Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, triggered a firestorm last week after he was reported by Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia saying May 13 could repeat if ties among the country’s races did not improve.

He did not mention the date specifically but Utusan Malaysia inserted the May 13, 1969 date to his quote in parentheses.

Hundreds of Malaysians are estimated to have died during the May 13, 1969 clashes between the Malays and ethnic Chinese.

Although ostensibly triggered by the results of Election 1969, it was rooted in ethnic tensions between the two communities.

Irked by Muhyiddin’s remark, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy challenged the Umno deputy president to “bring May 13”.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

However, Barisan Nasional component party heads downplayed the warning saying that it was an expression to encourage Malaysian to stay united.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai had said that Muhyiddin’s remark was merely a “reminder” that unity in Malaysia does not come easy and that all Malaysians should work together towards a better nation.

Similarly, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong said that Muhyiddin’s statement should not be misconstrued to take on a violent meaning as the Umno deputy president was merely “reminding” Malaysians to stay united. -Malay Mail