13 May tragedy from JJ.Raj (JR). The struggle for Malaysian Independence, 2007.

The following are extracts of even before 13 May tragedy from JJ.Raj (JR). The struggle for Malaysian Independence, 2007.

Incidents‑Nomination Day to Election Day

Some of the incidents during the Nomination Day to Election. Day period, together with the manner in which the election campaigns were being conducted by certain political parties, certain added gunpowder, to an already explosive situation. In Penang, on April 24, 1969, at about 8.30 a.m., a member of the political party UMN0, Eneik Kassim bin Omar, was riding his motorcycle when he was stopped by some youths who assaulted him so viciously, that he died. Then, they smeared the face of the deceased with red pain. Police investigations showed that at that time, these youths were writing anti‑Government slogans on the roads.

On May 4,1969, three Police Constables were on their round, in the early hours of the morning in Kepong, a village a few mile from Kuala Lumpur, when they came across some youths in the process of writing anti‑Government slogans on the road. They questioned the youths, where upon the youths attacked the Policemen with iron rods, firewood and stones. The police retreated to a nearby market, but the youths continued attacking the Police. In this situation, one of the Police opened fire, and unfortunately one of th. youths was hit and killed.

Labour Party applies for Police permit to hold procession

The body of the dead youth was brought to Kuala Lumpur and kept in a funeral parlour in Jalan Sultan then to have a massive funeral procession prior to proceeding to the cemetery for burial. The Labour Rarty wanted to make political issue out of this; hence the bringing of the body to the capital.