KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Despite continuous attempts by political parties to mine the May 13, 1969 race riots for support, analysts think most Malaysians have moved on.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan of think tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) said Malaysians are capable of moving away from race politics.

Even though the controversial movie “Tanda Putera” continues to dominate headlines and the various political parties are either defending or attacking the movie’s accuracy in its depiction of May 13, most Malaysians are irritated at worst or amused at best.

“Malaysians are capable of moving away from race politics. The problem has always been the politicians. It is they who want us divided so we must ensure that the politicians are not allowed to do that anymore,” said Wan Saiful.

“To blame May 13 on the Chinese or any ethnic group is divisive. It is wrong to racialise May 13. There were many dimensions of the incident,” DAP’s Liew Chin Tong said.

While Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had praised and defended the film, saying that it was indeed true that “some” Chinese had triggered the riots, he said it was wrong to pigeonhole the Chinese community based on the actions of some individuals.

However, Merdeka Center’s Ibrahim Suffian said that most of Malaysia’s voter population — the youth — are not affected by the debate.

“It is the politicians who are trying to comment on it and give it a racial angle but ordinary Malaysians are not affected by it.

“Most of them are born after May 13 or the new village era,” Ibrahim said.

Instead they look with a critical eye at how the authorities have allowed “Tanda Putera” to be screened while another locally-made film, “The New Village”, a love story set in the Emergency era, remains in limbo under orders from the Home Ministry despite being approved for theatrical release earlier.

“The New Village” was scheduled to open on August 22, a week before “Tanda Putera”.

Extreme right-wingers alleged that the Chinese-language movie glorifies the communist insurgents who were active during the Emergency.

Ibrahim said the movie should be screened — just like “Tanda Putera” -- and the people should be allowed to decide if it is any good.

“The movies should be allowed to be viewed and politicians be allowed to speak about it but let the movies stand on their own merits,” he said.

After all, everybody — including politicians — have a right to their opinions. But that is exactly what they are, opinions.