An article entitled All for multi-racial force by Datuk Yuen Yuet Leng published in a local English daily raises a very important question that I am sure all Malaysians will appreciate.

This concerns the clarification on the question of dealing with the law and order situation during the riots on May 13, 1969. In my article , I had mentioned that the police were initially unable to cope with the local widespread disturbances partly because it involved clashes between mainly the Malays and the Chinese residing in these areas (whereas the police were almost entirely Malay).

Moreover, when the armed forces themselves were finally deployed, there were other problems involved also because of the race and ethnic identity of the personal, i.e. the Sarawak Rangers and the Malay Regiment.

The above article by Yuen therefore, pointing out that the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) distinguished themselves by playing a major role in bringing the riots under control is welcome. The details provided were that the senior police officers involved 'ASP Shariman, Tham Kong Weng, Low Yew Hong, Pritam Singh' brought the situation under control.

What is particularly significant was that 'the rank and file elements (under their control) had a Malay majority'.

In other words, in that situation, the majority of the non-Malay senior FRU officers were able to get the full support of the majority rank and file Malay FRU personnel to control the situation despite the fact that the latter's own kith and kin were involved.

The rationale for having a 'multiracial police force' therefore speaks for itself.