May 13 memorial: Imam said prayers because there are Muslim graves

Persatuan Sahabat Warisan Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (Pesawa) clarified that the special burial area in Sungai Buloh for victims of the racial riots of May 13, 1969, is not a Chinese cemetery.

Instead, it serves as a final resting place for people of various ethnic backgrounds, including Malays.

Pesawa, formerly known as the May 13 Victims Commemoration Committee, made the clarification after photos of the annual memorial event last Saturday were circulated online along with the claim that a Muslim was praying at a “Chinese” cemetery.

“There are 102 tombstones, of which two are for Malay victims, two are for Indian victims, and the rest are Chinese victims.

“Considering the multiracial and multifaith background of the victims at this cemetery, the memorial service’s organising committee invited representatives from the six main religious groups - namely Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Christianity, and Catholicism - to recite their respective prayers,” Pesawa said in a statement today.

Pesawa is an association that gathers families of victims of the May 13 tragedy.

The group held a ceremony at the cemetery last Saturday to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the riots.

Those who took turns to lead the recital of prayers during the ceremony were Abdul Halim Akili (imam of Sungai Buloh Hospital mosque), Shi Yong Yi (the venerable of Fo Guang Shan), K Salladurai (priest from Sungai Buloh Sri Siva Subramaniar Temple), Tang Mun Choong (Malaysia Taoist Association), Tung Jing Xian (Sungai Buloh Gospel Hall) and Nicholas Hoh Jeng Kin (Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur).

According to Harian Metro, Kelantan mufti Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said that, in principle, Islamic prayers cannot be recited to non-Muslims at the cemetery.

“But since it is (a mixed cemetery), Muslims will pray for Muslims,” he was quoted commenting on the issue.

Meanwhile, Pesawa said it has been holding memorial events at the site since 2017 in remembrance of those killed in the riot and to promote mutual understanding between races.

“Pesawa hopes that with this explanation, any misunderstanding can be corrected and the spirit of unity and harmony between races can continue to be strengthened,” it said. - Mkini