Latest news with #May13
Free Malaysia Today
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PAS MP retracts claim linking Rayer to May 13 riots
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer filed a motion last week to refer Pendang MP Awang Hashim to Parliament's rights and privileges committee after the latter asked whether the government was trying to cause a recurrence of the May 13 riots. KUALA LUMPUR : Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) was forced to withdraw his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat today after claiming that RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) was involved in the May 13 racial riots. Rayer had asked Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul if action would be taken against Awang for bringing up the May 13 riots in the Dewan Rakyat last week. The DAP man said others would have been hauled to court by now for bringing up the controversial incident, but that no action had been taken against Awang. Hearing this, Awang interjected: 'I feel Rayer was involved with May 13 (riots), that's why he keeps disturbing (proceedings to raise the matter).' Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) then urged the PAS MP to retract his statement, questioning the basis of his accusation. Johari stepped in but had to ask Awang three times to withdraw his statement against Rayer, which he eventually did. He also said he was waiting for Awang to respond to him in writing regarding his May 13 remark last week, although the Perikatan Nasional MP said he had yet to receive the letter. Johari maintained that he had given Awang a deadline, after which he would make a decision. Last week, Rayer filed a motion to refer Awang to Parliament's rights and privileges committee after the PAS man asked whether the government was trying to cause a recurrence of the May 13 riots. Awang was speaking about the lack of initiatives for the Bumiputera community under the 13th Malaysia Plan when he made the remark.
Malay Mail
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
The future, with fewer bigots and Chinese, will have more Malaysians
AUG 7 — There was a kerfuffle in Dewan Rakyat this week. It's been polite days in the house but on Monday, Pendang got Jelutong's knickers in a knot by warning racial inequalities in a careless 13th Malaysia Plan may result in another May 13 riot. When and if Malays are left behind. Three times, May 13 was mentioned in that news report covering the petty parliamentary exchanges between legislators Awang Solahuddin Hashim and Jelutong's RSN Rayer. The portal is traditionally pro-Umno. The story was fine, it was the headline which caught me strange, or reactions to it. 'Pendang MP's May 16 tragedy quip if 13MP sidelines Bumiputera causes a ruckus (Kaitkan tragedy 16 Mei dengan RMK13 ketepikan Bumiputera, ucapan Ahli Parlimen Pendang cetus kecoh) Without intending it informs more about the present. For, the headline somehow misunderstood May 13 as May 16. Until a short while ago, there were two kinds of Malaysians. Those who lived through the race riots in 1969, and those who lived their lives learning about the race riots as a cautionary tale. The columnist falls in the latter. For a fair bit they both inhabited the land. Apparently, as a natural function of time, a new generation sprung and eventually nudged into play the game. These younger ones know somewhat about the riots as historical information. However are not encumbered by it. They will soon dominate the population as the first generation of Malaysians to slip away from centre-stage. The younger, uploading editors did not fret that they got the 13 as a 16. It is an error, and errors happen on the news floor, it is not a mortal sin to them. Forty-eight hours later, the headline remains uncorrected. Nobody alerted anybody. They did not grow up when May 13 meant May 13. What a wonderful reality to wake up to. Generation oldest would be incensed. Up in arms about it if nap time did not interfere. And their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, from the youngest generation remain lukewarm about the distant past. And they'll be increasingly in charge until the next generation comes in to replace. To the generation yet to emerge, it would be cold news. It's not only the overlook about the headline, there is a sense that the conviction that the hateful can shout in the dark and wait for a pliant lynch mob is fast expiring. The spectre of May 13 is not quite a thing to many, surely not as much as Anwar Ibrahim being imprisoned in 1998 or Mahathir Mohamad being PM again in 2018 or Muhyiddin Yassin the lockdown watchman in 2020. The recent past to them matters more than what grandma told mama. And in a further future, our recent past is a distant past and for other grandmothers to retell. That is expected, which leads to the material focus of the report and another recent development. Does — as Awang Solahuddin Hashim the two-time parliamentarian from Kedah does here quite inelegantly — scaring people about irrational fears still work anymore? A row of Jalur Gemilang flags adorns a building in Kuala Lumpur, celebrating Malaysia's Independence Day August 5, 2025 — Picture by Raymond Manuel He reminds the rakyat that a government which fails to immerse itself in Malay survivalism in a phase of faceless enemies at home results in comprehensive betrayal at levels only witnessed in scripture. Awang used the general mention of funding for Chinese New Villages and entrepreneurship as a segue to insist Malays are being left out. It bordered on pretending New York was geographically situated besides New Caledonia. He had no specifics, probably overwhelmed by his own allegations. The fact he is a PAS MP does him few favours, though it confirms stereotypes. This leads to the other press report mentioned. The one which stipulates in 2059 the Chinese, those alleged to be prime persecutors of Malays by the Malay right, slides down to 15 per cent. From close to a majority in pre-war Malaya, to 3 in 20 Malaysians in another 25 years, the presumed yellow terror seems less intimidating even to the completely racist. How much longer will Awang and his ilk milk racial insecurities and social upheavals? Historians may mark 2022, the last general election, as the final push by ethnic purists to pursue power in the country. Pendang proves he is the past. The other half of Perikatan Nasional (PN), Bersatu's senior leadership, toned down rhetoric and asked for better parliamentary processes, committees and even considered equitable economic restructures to fit all Malaysians. They realise madness as a method has limited applications. The shifts in demography, upping four in five Malaysians to be Bumiputera in 2060, turns arguments about a potent foe against Malays sitting in our midst more and more ludicrous by the year. There is social media evidence to the contrary currently but it'll over time dissipate. Not because the column is an oracle but the numbers do not lie. The real opponent for Malaysia is a larger world, filled with competition, as seen with the contest among countries to end up with lower tariffs when exporting to the United States of America. For Malaysia's sake, whether a future child is one or in the four in five, future tariffs and economic battles are the same. In the future it's about when and if Malaysians are left behind that should worry Malaysia. That works better when Malaysians look less wearily at each other and remember they are allies regardless of demography. Improving a Chinese New Village is improving a part of Malaysia which has Malaysians in them. That is true today, and no less true in 2059.
Free Malaysia Today
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Opposition MP, govt backbencher clash over May 13 remark
Awang Hashim denied making any provocative statement, after RSN Rayer asked for a ruling from the deputy speaker. KUALA LUMPUR : A war of words broke out between a government backbencher and an opposition MP after the latter mentioned the May 13 racial riots while criticising the 13th Malaysia Plan on grounds that it lacked initiatives for the Bumiputera community. Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) questioned the government's emphasis on New Villages, when debating the 13MP, tabled last Thursday. He said while Perikatan Nasional had no issue with funds for New Villages, there was no specific development for the Bumiputera community. 'When we look back at the May 13 incident, one of the elements was economic pressure on the Bumiputeras. That's why the 1MP to 13MP exist, to balance income and the economy among the races. But the 13MP has nothing specific for the Bumiputera community. 'Is the government trying to bring back another May 13 incident?' This prompted RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) to cite Standing Order 36(9)(c), which prohibits statements that can provoke hostility or hurt the feelings of any race. 'Pendang is suggesting May 13 can happen again,' Rayer said, urging deputy speaker Alice Lau to make a ruling. Awang denied making any provocative statement, saying such accusations were slanderous. 'I didn't say what you claimed I did. That's why even DAP people don't accept you anymore – you lost the (party's) central executive committee election,' he said. Rayer replied: 'We accept your point about Chinese New Villages, but why repeat that May 13 can happen again?' Defending his comments, Awang said: 'I quoted the point made by the prime minister, that the socio-economic level of New Villages will be strengthened through a development master plan. So, is it racist to mention that? If I say 'Bumiputera', is it racist? If I say 'Chinese', is it racist?' Rayer continued to press for a ruling, but Lau said she 'will let the minister respond', likely alluding to the economy minister. She said Rayer could submit a motion to the Speaker for further action.
LeMonde
13-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
French deal on New Caledonian state criticized in archipelago
An accord between France and New Caledonia, creating a state within a state and hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron as "historic," hit immediate fierce criticism in the Pacific archipelago on Sunday, July 13. Following deadly protests that rocked New Caledonia last year, Macron called for talks to break a deadlock between forces loyal to France and those seeking independence. After 10 days of negotiations near Paris, French officials and a delegation of 18 New Caledonian pro-independence and anti-independence representatives reached agreement on Saturday to create a "State of New Caledonia" within the French Republic. The text, which still requires French parliamentary approval and to pass a referendum in the archipelago, provides for the creation of a New Caledonian nationality and the sharing of powers. But it won few supporters in the archipelago. The signatories of the draft agreement admitted during a meeting with Macron on Saturday evening that they were struggling to win over opponents of the deal, which will be submitted to a referendum in February 2026. Joel Kasarerhou, president of civil society group Construire Autrement ("Build Differently"), called the agreement "stillborn," describing it as a "poor" replica of previous agreements and "lacking ambition and vision." Kasarerhou said the youth at the heart of the May 2024 uprising had been "forgotten or barely mentioned." He feared another "May 13": the date the 2024 riots began. Crossing a 'red line' Home to around 270,000 people and located nearly 17,000 kilometres from Paris, New Caledonia, one of several overseas territories that remain an integral part of France, has been ruled from Paris since the 1800s. But many indigenous Kanaks resent France's power over the islands and want more autonomy or independence. Unrest broke out in May 2024 after Paris planned to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous long-term residents. Kanaks feared this would water down their influence, crushing any chance of securing independence. Philippe Blaise, the pro-France first vice president of the Southern Province government, distanced himself from the accord, saying on social media he had discovered the contents of the agreement "like all New Caledonians" after it was signed. Blaise said the text "crossed a red line" with the recognition of a "New Caledonian state" and a "distinct nationality": incompatible, in his view, with French unity. 'Betrayal' Several pro-independence figures said the accord was signed without a clear mandate from their base. Several social media posts by pro-independence activists condemned their representatives' signing of the deal. Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze, a leader of the pro-independence group CCAT, currently incarcerated in France, said: "This text was signed without us. It does not bind us." Melanie Atapo, president of the pro-independence USTKE union, which represents Kanak people, told AFP she was "surprised" by the agreement and that the signatories should "come back to share with the bases before signing". Another pro-independence leader with links to the pro-independence FLNKS party, speaking on condition of anonymity, called it a "betrayal," saying pro-independence negotiators have "given in on essential points" without militant approval.
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Malaysian hockey salutes the team of '75
KUALA LUMPUR: The flames of Malaysia's greatest moment in hockey history half a century ago were rekindled today. The nostalgic embers of that momentous day glowed bright at a commemorative event at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. That great team that reached the semi-finals of the 1975 World Cup at Merdeka Stadium were fittingly honoured at the Sports Flame event, on the 50th anniversary of their remarkable feat. Sports Flame, founded in 2011, is a collaborative initiative by four former sports journalists — Datuk Lazarus Rokk, George Das, Datuk Fauzi Omar, and the late R. Velu. In 1975, the national team, skippered by Datuk Sri Shanmuganathan, were the underdogs then (Malaysia finished 11th in 1973), but they defied the odds. Till today, the achievement of the 1975 team remains unequalled by any other Malaysian national sides. Shanmuganathan and his men came tantalisingly close to reaching the final after taking a 2-0 lead against India in an epic semi-final showdown. However, mighty India forced extra-time with goals from S.R. Pawar and Aslam Sher Khan, sending the match into extra time. Harcharan Singh saved India an ignominious exit by scoring the winner. Shanmuganathan said the national team's rousing run to the World Cup semi-finals held great significance as it came during a time when the country was still healing from the May 13 tragedy. "Our fourth-place finish came just six years after May 13, and the way the team played — with its multiracial composition — was a powerful symbol of unity for the nation. "We are thankful to Sports Flame for organising this commemoration of our achievement," he said. Datuk R. Yogeswaran, the coach of the national team then, recalled the electrifying atmosphere as about 50,000 screaming fans packed the Merdeka Stadium. "I will never forget the 1975 World Cup. It remains vivid in my mind — how Malaysians from all walks of life came together to fill the stadium," he said. "Never in Malaysian hockey history have we seen 40,000 to 50,000 spectators at our matches. I'm grateful to Sports Flame for celebrating us year after year." The legendary national striker, Datuk Poon Fook Loke, expressed disappointment that Malaysia had yet to equal or surpass the 1975 feat. "I want to thank Sports Flame for reminding the nation of our achievement," he said. "It happened 50 years ago, and I feel sad that we have never come close to replicating it." The event also honoured 160 national sports icons who shone between the 1960s and 1980s. The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, graced the occasion with his royal presence. Among the former top athletes in attendance were Datuk Santokh Singh (football), Datuk James Selvaraj (badminton), Noraseela Khalid (athletics), and Kevin Nunis (hockey). The event also paid tribute to the late R. Velu, one of Sports Flame's founding members and a beloved figure in Malaysian sports journalism. Al-Sultan Abdullah presented a commemorative plaque to a representative of Velu's family. Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs made a surprise appearance at the Sports Flame event, and presented Al-Sultan Abdullah with a signed Manchester United jersey.
