Nation is 'teetering on the edge' of May 13-style riots, says Kit Siang

Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has warned that the country is moving towards racial riots similar to the incident that took place more than five decades ago, with a reminder that the federal constitution guarantees equality to all races, including on the question of taking over the top office.

"After 54 years, Malaysia is teetering on the edge of another May 13, 1969 riot," Lim said in a statement, lashing out at Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin for condemning yesterday's arrest and prosecution of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

"Will all political parties and candidates in the forthcoming six state polls on Aug 12 declare that they do not want a recurrence of the May 13, 1969 riot in Malaysia and reaffirm the relevance of the Rukun Negara nation-building principles for a plural Malaysia?" he asked.

Hamzah had described the sedition charges slapped against Sanusi as selective prosecution, a stand taken by other opposition leaders.

The outspoken Kedah politician was arrested in the wee hours of the morning by some twenty policemen and was charged hours later for his speeches mocking the Selangor menteri besar's performance as well as questioning the credibility of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Lim, in his statement today, also reminded that the constitution does not prohibit a non-Malay from becoming prime minister, saying the nation's founding fathers would have no problem with such a scenario.

But he said whether or not a non-Malay would take the top office in Malaysia in the same way Barack Obama became the first black president of the US was a separate question.

"I do not expect to see a non-Malay become prime minister in my lifetime or even my children's lifetime," Lim said.

"With Obama's historic breakthrough, many Malaysians were asking whether it was possible for a Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Dayak to become the prime minister of Malaysia although the Constitution is very clear that any Malaysian citizen, regardless of race or religion, can become prime minister," he added.

He said Malaysia's race relations "seem to have slipped further" this year, adding that the Aug 12 state polls would show whether Malaysia can return to "the original nation-building principles of a plural Malaysia".

The 1969 race riot refers to violence between ethnic Malays and Chinese in the aftermath of the general election that year, which saw gains by non-Malay-based parties at the expense of the ruling coalition led by Umno.

The episode is considered a dark chapter in Malaysia's post-independence history, with authorities frequently warning the public against any open discussions of the topic.