it's true. The old people would tell you that the father and to a lesser extent him that's what happened. although he has a temper, he can be quite kind esp the old father sultan ismail. they prevented alot of killings by federal troops during the May 13 riots when the late sultan ismail personally went to town and told all he would shoot any person himself irrespective of race if they start a riot. The Johor Military force took over in ohor and kept the Federal army from committing various killings and infarctions, that's why the chinese were spared the violnece and killings in Johor compared to Penang and KL where hundreds died. that's why in JB they still allow the Chinese to hold a very large religious procession through town every chinese new year. compared to penang, KL and ipoh where they are banned along time ago.
According to
Field Marshal Lord Carver( Commander in Chief, Far East Command) in one of his book based on the declassified British Military's documents, the killings went on for a few days until a threat was issued by the Israel whom had more than 200 military instructors based on the island of Singapore at that time. They were in Singapore teaching the newly incorporated Singapore's Army and those of you who were there could please kindly elaborate on this subject further.
The Israelis threatened to unleash their military insructors to help the Chinese reorganise for a protracted war of attritions against the Malaysian's Army. This solidarity gesture with the Malaysian's Chinese poisoned Israel/Malaysia's relationship until today not because of the Palestinian issue. Who were the Palestinians to those Malays anyway before May 13, 1969 ?
The Malaysian Army chickened out on the possible oncoming comfrontation and everyone in the military circle will know that but this is a taboo subject in Malaysia.
Tunku Abdul Rahman's brought in the Sarawak Rangers to replace the grossly and unashamedly biased Malay's Regiment also helped diffused an all out war amongst the races.
The Chinese of Malaysia really owed the Israelis big time but unfortunately most of them are in the dark on this matter. The Israelis must have recognised the fighthing spirits of those Chinese and their willingness to help the underdogs of the day should be greatly admired.
Could all those who served in the Singapore Defence Forces during those turbulent times please come forward and sheds more light on this, please ?
Oh yeah, if you have time, please read the book by Lord Carver. Interesting !!! He also mentioned most of the sultans and Malays were Japanese collaborators during the second WW.
All Chinese Malaysians worth his salt should look at Israel in a different light than the one painted by the UMNO PUKI Government.