MAY 13TH CEMETERY

(RAAP—026)

The May 13th Cemetery, located on the outskirts of a former leprosorium complex in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, is dedicated to victims of the May 13th racial riots of 1969. The cemetery, covering an area approximately the size of two badminton courts, contains 114 unnamed tombstones marking the graves of victims, including one Indian, two Malays, and 111 Chinese, with one grave remaining unidentified. The graves are inscribed with “By courtesy of the Malaysian Government.”

The May 13th incident remains a sensitive and taboo subject in Malaysia due to its violent nature, which represents one of the bloodiest episodes in the country’s history. Official records state that approximately 200 people died during the riots.

For decades, the cemetery was largely neglected until 2017, when a property developer proposed clearing the land to build a car park. This proposal led to a public outcry and motivated families of the deceased to advocate for the preservation and restoration of the site. The cemetery has since been restored and is regularly visited by families paying their respects to the victims.