Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said there was nothing wrong in raising the May 13 race riots in her policy speech at the wing's opening yesterday, for there are lessons to be learnt from the incident.

“There is nothing wrong with referring to history. We cannot erase the country’s history and (the events of) May 13.

NONE “It is a part of the darkest days in history and I stress that it is ‘disgusting’,” Shahrizat said during a press conference this morning.

The May 13 issue was not read out by Shahrizat in her presentation, but it appeared in the speech handout that was uploaded on the Umno Wanita website.

Fear mongering

Based on the text of the speech, Shahrizat said, the Malay community would be upset if Umno was voted out of government and the country's political stability would be shaken.

“I am worried that this may lead to racial tensions that would repeat the tragedy of May 13, 1969. Do we want to see a disgusting event happening again in our country? Surely not,” the text of her speech says.

Shahrizat also criticised an online news organisation for "sensationalising" the matter, accusing the organisation of being "irresponsible" and are out to "create tension".

"I extend my sympathy to them for their lack of professionalism... They want to cause tension. I want to ask them do they really intend to create tension?

“That is not my intention,” she said, without naming the said organisation.

Meanwhile, Harakah Daily reports that PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar said Shahrizat's statement reflects Umno's fear and that it was also a "threat".

"That statement is laced with threats as though they will incite chaos if Umno lose the general elections," said Mahfuz.

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