PESAWA held its 4th Committee Election on 3 February 2026, during which Tang Ah Chai was successfully elected as the new President.
Following the election, the association hosted a Chinese New Year gathering dinner to thank and honour friendly organisations and individuals who had played key roles in safeguarding the May 13 Memorial Cemetery and advancing efforts toward transitional justice related to the May 13 Incident.
In his speech, Tang pointed out that the core mission of the association since its founding has been to preserve the historically significant May 13 Memorial in Sungai Buloh as a complete and protected national heritage site. After officially securing the gazettement of the Memorial as a reserve land by the Selangor State Government in November 2024, the association’s next key step will be the establishment of a Memorial Development and Beautification Committee to systematically advance the cemetery’s construction, preservation, and maintenance.
He added that in recent years the association has actively encouraged cross-ethnic participation, welcoming non-Chinese members in order to incorporate more diverse perspectives into its work and to avoid potential blind spots caused by a single viewpoint.
Tang also emphasized that the development and beautification of the cemetery is not only about preserving history, but also about encouraging scholars and members of the public to participate and deepen their understanding of the May 13 Incident. He stressed that the May 13 Incident is a national historical event, not an issue belonging to any single ethnic group. The association’s stance is to learn lessons from history and provide constructive guidance for the future.
“We do not wish to repeat the old path of responding to hatred with hatred. Instead, we hope to reflect on how we can build a better future, foster healthier interethnic relations, and cultivate a more mature national culture. Only then will such efforts truly carry meaning,” he said.
4th Committee of PESAWA (2026/2027)
President: Tang Ah Chai
Deputy President: Tan Choong Cheng
Secretary: Law Jing
Deputy Secretary: Yong Cho Chee
Treasurer: Ling Chia Nien
Committee Member: Goh You Peng
Committee Member: Tay Lian Chin
Auditor: Wey Jiun Horng