by Dr. Chen Man Hin
21.9.2013
The Malaysian government’s continued refusal to allow the remains of deceased Chin Peng to be buried in his home town in Malaysia is a blot on the humanity of Umno leaders.
The reason for their stubborn refusal was that Chin Peng caused the death of thousands of Malay police personnel in the guerrilla war from 1948 to 1989.
It is not true that Chin Ping killed them in cold blood. There was a guerrilla war going on at that time.
Chin Peng was the leader of the Malayan Liberation Front, which was part of the world communist movement.
It is relevant to point out that there was another guerrilla war going on in Vietnam from 1955 to 1975, between the Vietnam National Liberation Front and the American army in Vietnam, with war casualties running into tens of thousands for the Americans and hundreds of thousands for the Vietnamese.
Do America and Vietnam still bear a grudge against each other?
Umno leaders must open their eyes and follow the example of the Vietnamese and American governments and people.
In the guerrilla war in Malaya, Malayan security officers and Chin Peng’s fighters were killed between Malayan and British forces on one side and Chin Peng’s guerrillas on the other.
The Malayan government was angry because many Malay officers were killed. They have refused to grant citizenship to Chin Peng although the guerrilla war had ended in 1989. Now that he has died, the grudge and vengeance still grips UMNO leaders, who refuse to allow Chin Peng’s ashes to be buried in his home country, Malaysia.
The Malaysian government leaders should stop their senseless boycott of the rights of Chin Peng to be a citizen of our country and to be buried here.
It is valid to point out that the British troops were killed by the thousands in the guerrilla war with the Malayan communists but the British acknowledged that they were killed in a war.
This is a lesson for UMNO to learn and accept.
‘ … The reason for their stubborn refusal was that Chin Peng caused the death of thousands of Malay police personnel in the guerrilla war from 1948 to 1989. … ‘.
It is mainly UMNO Baru leaders and their supporters who continue to object to Chin Peng’s return. Their argument is that many Malay soldiers and policemen were killed during this time.
It is unfortunate that they cannot appreciate that many of the personnel casualties were in fact Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Gurkhas and many British and Commonwealth soldiers. They have all moved on. The war is over. But not in UMNO who seems incapable of moving on with their perpetual hatred.
For those who continue to speak out against Chin Peng’s return, tell us what YOU and your parents contributed to the country’s independence and WHY we should ignore other freedom fighters across the spectrum who actively did so in their own ways?
Who is a ‘terrorist’? One man’s ‘terrorist’ can be another man’s ‘freedom fighter’ ? The judges are all out there.
For decency’s sake, let go of the past. Move on.
The government’s recalcitrant and unforgiving attitude in dealing with the remains of deceased Chin Peng will surely tarnish the country’s international image.
Dr Chen Man Hin,
Hm, come to think of it, that’s actually quite a good point you are making – the Communist insurgency from 1948 to 1989 was ideologically based and NOT. racially based.
After, the MCP comprised of the Malays, Chinese and Indians.
I guess it is difficult for many Malaysians to understand the transition of Chin Peng from freedom fighter to insurgent due to the lack of interest in Communism nowadays.
One of the most famous Malay heroes, Lt Adnan Said of the Malay Regiment, was killed in Bukit Candu in Singapore when he and his comrades fought the advancing Japanese army in 1941. His brother Ahmad too was killed by the Japanese when they bombed the ship he was serving on.
So there you have it. The Japanese killed many Malay soldiers or civilians too. Their invasion of Malaysia in 1941 was a sneak attack and can be likened to a terrorist act. So why do we allow the Japanese to come into Malaysia today but do not allow Chin Peng to return?