ABSTRACT
The riots in Kuala Lumpur in May 1969 had a drastic and lasting effect on Malaysian politics and in particular in mainland West Malaysia, the 11 states of Peninsular Malaysia. The historical basis for the special rights lies in understandings between the British and the Malay Sultans when the tin and rubber industries were rapidly expanded to meet the demands of Europe during the late 19th century. The principle credit for the remarkably low scale of communal violence from 1957-1969 must go to Tunku Abdul Rahman for his vision and political skill in uniting the great majority of Malay, Chinese and Indian voters behind the Alliance Party. The Chinese and Indians made up a clear majority of the population in Kuala Lumpur. The Chinese and Indians remained largely on the defensive at their barricades apart from a few secret society gangs. Groups of young Malays, however, ran wild, killing, looting and burning in the Chinese areas.
