13 May Ketuanan Melayu

in 1969, general election held. first contested on major scale non-malay-based opposition parties, other 1964 election pap challenged alliance in peninsular malaysia. 2 main opposition parties on front in 1969 democratic action party (dap) — malaysian successor pap, seen chinese-based — , parti gerakan rakyat malaysia (gerakan), ostensibly multiracial party led former mca stalwart, lim chong eu, , other middle-class intellectuals tan chee khoon , syed hussein alatas. both proposed policies on language, education, , malay rights diametrically opposed of government, dap continuing lee kuan yew had left off malaysian malaysia campaign. some, dap, called elevation of english, mandarin , tamil official language status, along malay. stronger government support chinese education stream demanded.

pas, on other hand, attempted garner votes accusing umno of selling out malays indigenous rights pendatang asing . when results released, pas had made minor inroads, dap , gerakan managed topple alliance power in 3 states, , eradicated alliance s traditional two-thirds majority in parliament. large part of these gains came @ expense of mca, announced not participate in new government after election, mca no longer had mandate represent chinese interests in government. jubilant dap , gerakan organised victory parades in national capital of kuala lumpur on 11 , 12 may, participants taunted malays while bearing slogans such semua melayu kasi habis ( finish off malays ). apology issued after rallies. nevertheless, shocked malays blamed chinese voters betraying alliance formula voting opposition had revived fundamental questions of language , malay special rights .

malay extremists welcomed mca s move, feeling umno- , malay-dominated government better serve purposes. umno held own rally, became riot, on 13 may. later euphemistically labelled 13 may incident . umno supporters gathered @ harun s house on evening of 13 may, rally due start, many brandishing parangs (machetes) , other weapons. leaders condemned insults of infidels @ previous victory parades, calling counter-rally means teach chinese lesson challenging malay supremacy. soon, crowd began attacking passing chinese motorists, , launched arson attacks on chinese homes , shops. rioting spread, and, despite military being called in, continued 2 days.

as result of riots, parliament suspended, , state of national emergency declared. national operations council (noc) formed oversee administration of country under emergency rule. although rioting had died down, tensions continued simmer. non-malay boycott of malay goods , services received near total support, while many malays, such mahathir mohamad , raja muktaruddin daim began calling autocracy led umno alone, , removal of tunku. according sources, 1 group of ultras , comprising syed nasir ismail, musa hitam, , tengku razaleigh, felt power-sharing constitution had failed, , agreed country had returned malays. allegedly agreed summon mahathir kuala lumpur, led anti-tunku campaign.

mahathir wrote open letter tunku, accusing him of giving chinese demand ... have given them face. soon, students @ higher educational institutions across country began hold mass demonstrations, calling tunku step down in favour of leader restore malay sovereignty . sporadic rioting, believed have been instigated tunku s opponents, broke out.

instead of bowing demands, tunku had mahathir , musa hitam expelled umno. minister of home affairs, ismail abdul rahman, alleged these ultras believe in wild , fantastic theory of absolute dominion 1 race on other communities, regardless of constitution. ... polarisation has taken place in malaysian politics , extreme racialists among ruling party making desperate bid topple present leadership.