YOURSAY ‘The corrupt government would never want to set up a commission to uncover the truth behind May 13. It wants to hide the truth and perpetuate lies...'

'Tanda Putera', truth and reconciliation

Anonymous$&@?: If the film was made based on true facts and validated by historically documented papers, then no one would protest to it being screened.

This version that is shown is based on Umno's bigotry, and its sole purpose is to distort the true facts that led to the May 13, 1969 riots.

The intent is to polarise and divide the Malays and Chinese so that Umno can perpetuate their hold on power.

Mercury135: Writer Kua Kia Soong, it's an excellent idea to let a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) investigate the May 13 incident.

However, since the minority BN government has probably the most to lose by revealing the truth, they will not create a TRC. Can any suitable group of NGOs do it, perhaps under the auspices of the United Nations?

The new US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, wrote a Pulitzer prize-winning book, ‘The Problem from Hell' about genocide in Bosnia, based on her experiences there as a journalist.

Also, there exist recently developed automated DNA techniques of identifying persons from bone fragments that have been used at other global sites where victims of atrocities had been interred.

A database of as many survivors as possible needs to be built up to help with identification.

Many Malaysians, including me, would like to help to identify not just the victims, but the possible planners of that infamous day.

If we don't, one day, they will say it never happened. Perhaps the time is now - let's get it done, please.

Odin: I agree with Mercury135 that the corrupt government would never want to set up a commission to uncover the truth behind May 13.

It wants to hide the truth and perpetuate lies instead and to make the pendatangs from Indonesia, or otherwise erroneously known as Malays, feel hatred for the Chinese.

CiViC: Looking at the way things are, BN seems to be executing a well-plotted plan to wipe out the Chinese from Malaysia before GE14.

From the very first comment of Prime Minister Najib Razak's "Chinese Tsunami", to Utusan Malaysia's article ‘Apa Lagi Cina Mahu?', to ‘Tanda Putera' being screened in public cinemas, the production of the drama series on the controversial textbook ‘Interlok', and the latest blog posting from former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the ‘Chinese racists', all these do not seem to be coincidental at all.

Not even a little bit, but rather a plot to ignite hatred hoping for another May 13 with all the blame pinned on the Chinese again.

Ipohcrite: I think it is time someone independent, maybe Suaram, make a film to tell the truth about May 13, and Kua can be a big help in this.

As for raising the funds for this project, an appeal to the public can be made. I, for one, am willing to donate a hundred bucks to see the truth published, instead of the sewage filth that is being propagandised by ‘Tanda Putera'.

Trublumalaysian: Perhaps, the private sector with the help of the opposition which holds 53 percent of the votes should produce a film, detailing the actual truth and none other than Kua, Tamrin Abdul Ghafar, Lim Kit Siang and a host of other credible characters could be consultants to this film of eternal truth for Malaysians.

Anonyxyz: Whatever the truth may be, even with historical facts from the archives and hypothetically with those dead being brought back to life to tell the truth, we have to accept that a sizeable, significant and influential number of Malays have been systematically addicted to that ‘Tanda Putera' version of the way things happened as the version they want to believe.

This brainwashing is what keeps those who walk in Umno corridors of power get richer and richer by the day.

Even the mad doctor's screams that those post-GE13 'Black 505' rallies are signs of the Chinese wanting to dominate the Malays.

With this strategy, Umno can never lose any election; they are destined to rule forever.

Stop Lynas!: Since May 13 involved certain high ranking persons, the truth can never be told. Under such circumstance, the film can only lie itself from start to end.

For a "preview" at above photo (from 'Tanda Putera'), you can tell what the movie is going to be - hint: people carrying a portrait of chairman Mao. What a joke.

Harapanbaru: Thank you, Kua, for always serving so eloquently the cause of social justice, truth and democratic principles.

If you had happened to be born into a Malay family, Utusan Malaysia would have labelled you a "traitor to the race".

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