Sometimes, history is hidden in places that seem unremarkable. Located to the west of Kuala Lumpur, Sungai Buloh is home to two important historical landmarks: the May 13 Memorial Cemetery and the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement (Valley of Hope). Although both have played important roles in the historical development of their respective fields, they remain relatively unfamiliar to most Malaysians.
Therefore, PESAWA has specially arranged guided tours in different languages to explore these historical landmarks and gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s history. The Malay-language tour will invite university students to participate on April 29 and will be personally led by the Deputy Director of the leprosy settlement, Dr. Radhadiah. The English tour will be held on May 6 (Saturday) and the Chinese tour will take place on May 7 (Sunday) at 8.30am Everyone is welcome to join.
The Sungai Buloh May 13 Memorial Cemetery is a burial ground slightly larger than two badminton courts. According to records, a total of 114 victims who died between May 14 and May 17 1969 were buried here. Most of the tombstones bear names. Besides Chinese victims, there are also two Malays and two Indians. Only a small number are unidentified, as the authorities were unable to determine their identities when handling the burials. In March 2017, this piece of land nearly became a parking lot after plans to level the site. Fortunately, a group of people including social activists, political workers, and elected representatives—stepped forward to ensure that the cemetery could be preserved until today.
As the victims were first buried collectively and the tombstones were erected only later, the tombstones do not correspond exactly to the location of the bodies. Here, people mourn and pray for the souls of those who died unjustly, hoping they may rest in peace, and that the public will learn from history so that such tragedies are never repeated. For this reason, PESAWA invites religious leaders from various faiths every year to offer prayers and blessings for the deceased. In 2023, marking the 54th anniversary of the May 13 incident, PESAWA held a public memorial ceremony on May 13 (Saturday) at 8.30am, inviting Selangor State Assemblyman Datuk Teng Chang Khim to serve as the chief officiant. Religious leaders from different faiths conducted prayers according to their respective traditions, followed by flower offerings. The event was open to the public.
The co-organisers included PESAWA, Persatuan Rakyat Sejiwa Malaysia, the Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Committee of the Lim Lian Geok Foundation, Chan Deng Cultural and Arts Association, and the Kuala Lumpur Yong Chun Association.
History is not only about looking back; it also inspires thoughtful discussion and exchange. On May 20 (Chinese session) and May 27 (Malay session), PESAWA will organise a youth dialogue titled “The New Generation’s Perspective on May 13.” The event will begin at 1.00pm with afternoon tea, followed by the dialogue session at 2.00pm, to be held at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall conference hall.
For updates on all the above activities, please visit PESAWA’s website:https://513memorial.org/
Guided tour in BM https://fb.me/e/7n5Z3Mjdy
Guided tour in Mandarin https://fb.me/e/QUgqaFbi
Guided tour in English https://fb.me/e/2zZQxopHR