After the storm, where is the place to return to? Representatives of multiple religions gather in prayer to remember the victims.
This year marks the 54th anniversary of the 1969 “May 13 Incident”. Six organizations including Persatuan Sahabat Warisan Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (PESAWA), Persatuan Rakyat Sejiwa Malaysia, KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee, LLG Cultural Development Centre Bhd, Chan Deng Culture & Arts Society Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Eng Choon Hoey Kuan, jointly organize three activities: a cemetery tour, a memorial ceremony, and an in-person discussion session, to commemorate the victims, reflect on the past, and explore how the new generation views the May 13 Incident.
The memorial ceremony will take place on 13 May 2023 (Saturday), 9.00am at the Sungai Buloh May 13 Memorial. Victims’ families, descendants, and members of the public are warmly invited to attend, with registration starting at 8.30am. The organizers have invited Dato’ Teng Chang Kim, Selangor State Executive Councilor, to be the guest of honor. Religious leaders from Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Christianity will conduct prayers and rituals, so that the over 100 victims buried at the cemetery may rest in peace.
During the ceremony, a flower offering ritual will be held. In addition to the guest of honor and committee representatives laying wreaths, attendees will be invited to freely place flowers at each tombstone to pay tribute to the innocent victims. Additionally, renowned poet Fang Lu will recite his new poem, “The Return of Shelter after Storm and Rain”, on-site. The memorial will be conducted both in-person and via Facebook live streaming on two channels:
https://www.facebook.com/ppwbmalaysia/
https://www.facebook.com/klscahcrc
Besides the memorial ceremony, the organizers have arranged a free in-person discussion session on 20 May 2023 (Saturday), 1pm, at the Selangor & Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall. The theme is “How the New Generation Views May 13”. The discussion will explore how young people perceive the May 13 Incident, their perspectives and understanding, whether the truth matters to them, and whether declassified archives can help achieve reconciliation across the nation and among communities.
For any inquiries regarding the May 13 Incident commemorative activities, please contact:
Mr. Ng: 012-203 3599
Mr. Tan: 012-226 9373