May 13, never again

Rumours of trouble

Various places in Kuala Lumpur

Rumours circulate that the Umno rally scheduled for 7.30pm might lead to trouble. Weapons are distributed among secret society members.

The first clash

Setapak

An unarmed Malay group traveling from Gombak to Selangor MB Harun Idris's house clash with the Chinese bystanders taunting them. Most retreat, but some on scooters continue the trip.

Thousands of Malay youths gather

Harun Idris' House

Malay youths have been gathering here for two hours. By now, some 5,000 are present but they are still orderly. They carry sticks and banners, but a few have parangs and keris.

The first death - a boy

Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz

Some Malays who were in the earlier clash arrive on scooters and decry "Setapak dah kena langgar".

The mob retaliates by killing a Chinese boy delivering coffee. (Read more)

Van torched, two Chinese men inside

Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz

A van is burnt in front of Harun's political secretary, Ahmad Razali's house. Two Chinese men were inside.

Ahmad tells Harun; both try to calm the crowd. Harun climbs onto a bus to address the crowd but to no avail.

Mob starts to move, violence escalates

Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz

By 7pm, the moving mob starts attacking Chinese bystanders. Chinese shopkeepers throw bottles at the mob, prompting retaliation and the razing of shophouses.

Teargas fired

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman roundabout

FRU stops mob of 150 at the Chow Kit roundabout; teargas fired. The mob retreats to Kg Baru.

FRU is stationed around the city centre - Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Chow Kit, and Kg Baru.

Massacre at Federal Highway

Federal Highway

By 7.15pm, they blocked the four-lane Federal Highway with logs, massacred Chinese (and some Indians), then burned their cars. Violence was spreading like wildfire.

Violence spreads to more Malay kampungs

Kampung Pandan & Datuk Keramat

The violence spreads. Malay youths on motorbikes bring news of 'Kg Baru slaughter' to Kg Pandan. A shop is torched 20 minutes later.

In Kg Datuk Keramat, a Chinese home is torched; an old man dies in the flames.

Arson attempt on Umno HQ

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Chinese and Indians attack Malay-owned businesses and vehicles, after a Malay mob moves on. They try to burn down the Umno HQ but fail. Propaganda trucks are torched.

Malay moviegoers attacked in cinemas

Rex Cinema, Federal Cinema & Capitol Theatre

Armed Chinese men enter cinemas and attack Malay moviegoers. Many die. Near Capitol Theatre, the FRU disperse a Chinese mob of about 1,000 and rushed the injured to hospital.

Shot at close range

General Hospital

Casualties arriving at GH from now onwards are nearly all Chinese and almost all have gunshot wounds. Many were shot at close range.

Army opens fire

Jalan Raja Alang

A Chinese man opens fire with a shotgun. Army retaliates, killing 11.

There are reports of a hail of gunfire at hotspots along the Klang River and Sungai Bunus - shooters unknown. (Read more)

Bodies pile up

General Hospital

Bodies are piled up three-deep in the morgue. There is no more space, but bodies continue to turn up.