Gerakan wants Chin Peng home

[pywong]

It remains useful for UMNO to demonise the communists and use it as a bogeyman to frighten the rural Malays. They are just dragging the case, hoping that he will die first. They will never admit that Chin Peng was a hero who fought the Japanese and the British. Allowing that will mean that they cannot claim to be the sole liberators of Merdeka.

Gerakan wants Chin Peng home

Posted by admin
Thursday, 21 May 2009 03:50

(The Malaysian Insider) - Penang Gerakan wants Chin Peng to be allowed to return to Malaysia as the communists are no longer a security threat.

Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said that “even communist giants China and Russia have transformed towards economy-based struggles and the extreme communist terrorism practised in the 50s is non-existent now."

As such, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should review former communist leader Chin Peng's plea to be allowed home on humanitarian grounds, said Teng.

He said this in a statement following a call by Penang-based NGO Citizens International to end the Sitiawan native's exile.

“He is now 85 years old and wishes to return to Malaysia, his birthplace. He has even appealed to the High Court to allow him to return but the appeal was rejected," Teng said of Chin Peng, whose close relatives live in Butterworth, Penang.

Chin Peng is currently living in exile in Bangkok. He failed in his last bid to live in Malaysia after the Federal Court on April 30 upheld two lower courts’ decisions compelling him to produce his identification documents before he could enter the country.

According to the former Penang state executive councillor, Citizens International chairman S.M. Mohamed had said that the liberation movement led by individuals such as Chin Peng had contributed to the independence of Malaya.

Mohamed described Chin Peng as a Malaysian patriot who fought the British colonialists from the age of 15 and “sacrificed everything he had to free this country from British control, domination and exploitation.” Link here… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22136/84/)

[pywong]

Gerakan’s call on Chin Peng return slammed

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — The Ex-Policemen’s Association of Malaysia (PBPM) has protested against a call for former communist leader Chin Peng to be allowed to return to Malaysia.

PBPM acting president Ku Mohamad Khalid Tuan Ibrahim said the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) had waged a reign of terror against the country during the Emergency where scores of policemen were slain. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/27371-gerakans-call-on-chin-peng-return-slammed)

[pywong]

Ah! It is getting clearer by the day. We have the BN Chinese parties proposing one thing. UMNO demonise it. Then the papers go to town to create friction among the races. This is the typical Bogeyman tactic, ala Mahathir.

We really have to admire UMNO's consistency in their hypocrisy.

Villagers against Chin Peng’s return

LENGGONG, May 29 — The call for former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) Secretary-General Chin Peng to be allowed to return to Malaysia has evoked painful nostalgia for residents of a remote village in Hulu Perak, which had once been a target of the communist aggression.

The government’s decision as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to not allow Chin Peng, who is currently living in exile in Hatyai, Thailand to return to Malaysia, even on humanitarian grounds, was received well by villagers as well as an individual who claimed to be a former CPM leader. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/27994-villagers-against-chin-pengs-return)

And Zaid Ibrahim has something to say about it.

Zaid attacks racial overtones in anti-Chin Peng campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Former communist leader Chin Peng laid down arms 20 years ago, and on April 30, he lost his final bid in the Federal Court to return to Malaysia, but in recent weeks Umno leaders and media controlled by the party have turned him once again into the country’s “Public Enemy No. 1”.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a former Umno Cabinet minister, expressed concern today over the racial overtones of the campaign to prevent Chin Peng from coming home. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/27973-zaid-attacks-racial-overtones-in-anti-chin-peng-campaign)

[pywong]

Examples of UMNO hypocrisy.

1. Govt did not fulfill the terms of the 1989 Agreement signed between the Govt and the CPM.

2. If the communists are so evil, why is Najib visiting China?

RPK's article below has some interesting historical lessons on the Malayan Emergency, the ISA and how UMNO lied to the people. The ISA was meant only for the communists but it is mostly used against ordinary citizens today.

Peguam Chin Peng: Kerajaan Malaysia Tidak Tepati Janji

Posted by admin
Saturday, 30 May 2009 01:05

(TV Antara) - Peguam kepada bekas Setiausaha Agung Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM), Darshan Singh Khaira mempersoalkan keikhlasan kerajaan Malaysia menunaikan janjinya untuk membenarkan bekas pemimpin-pemimpin parti tersebut termasuk Chin Peng pulang ke tanah air kelahiran mereka setelah menanda tangani perjanjian dengan PKM pada 1989. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22551/84/)

Why is Najib going to China when China was behind Chin Peng?

Posted by admin
Friday, 29 May 2009 17:35

Why are we punishing Chin Peng but grovelling at the feet of the country that backed Chin Peng? Chin Peng had more or less been defeated back in 1960. But China helped prolong the war another 29 years. China ‘made’ Chin Peng. But Chin Peng is punished and China is not.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin
More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22549/84/)

[DesertMoon]

If Chin Peng was not Chinese, will we (not referring to the govt) still feel the same?

[pywong]

If Chin Peng was not Chinese, will we (not referring to the govt) still feel the same?

No difference. We are talking about a peace agreement between two parties. If the govt can break this agreement, they can break any other agreement.

When Anwar got beaten blue and black, the whole nation was in an uproar. We didn't think about him being a Malay? We thought of him as a human being and a fellow Malaysian. Same principle applies to Chin Peng.

[pywong]

Let’s play the numbers game

Posted by admin
Saturday, 30 May 2009 16:11

If brutality and the number of deaths are the reason for deciding whether to cut off all dealings with anyone, then there are worse people than Chin Peng. The example of the Wahhabis I used above would be one case in point.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

5,000 people died in more than 40 years of conflict between the Malayan Communist Party and the Malayan Government. In that same period, almost 7,000 guerrillas were killed with about 4,500 captured or surrendered. Note that half the 5,000 who died were civilians. But not all these civilians were killed by the Communist Terrorists. Some civilians were killed by the security forces.

That was what happened over 40 years or so from 1948 to 1989. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22569/84/)

[pywong]

Government denies reneging on peace deal with CPM

Posted by admin
Tuesday, 02 June 2009 18:52

(Bernama) - The Home Ministry today refuted claims by some quarters that the government had reneged on its peace agreement with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) signed on December 2, 1989.

Its deputy minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said 442 ex-CPM members applied to return to Malaysia, but only 406 attended the interviews and fulfilled the conditions to be allowed to return.

“Chin Peng or his real name, Ong Boon Hwa, had submitted his application a day before the application period closed, but he did not attend the interview fixed for October 31, 1992. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22693/84/)

[pywong]

Read the Mahathir spin. The issue is the peace agreement between the MCP and the Govt in 1989. What are the terms? That's all. No need to throw up all the diversion to confuse the issue. If the agreement provides for Chin Peng to return, let him return. If not, he is not allowed to return.

Don't keep on shifting the goal posts. That is a show of bad faith. UMNO has a well-proven track record for breaking agreements. That is what we are concerned with.

Don't forget. China supported Chin Peng all those years he was fighting the Malaysian govt. If Chin Peng is an enemy, China should be an equally big enemy. Why is Najib crawling to China begging for business? Just look at how China is treating Najib during his official visit and we can see how lowly they think of us. He is received by the China no. 2 - Wen Jaibao instead of the no. 1, Premier Hu Jintao. Only today, 4th Jun 09, did he manage to get to meet President Hu.

Dr M says Chin Peng move undermines Umno’s freedom fight

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whose government signed a peace deal with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) in 1989, today said arguments that Chin Peng fought for freedom are undermining both Umno and the Malays’ fight for independence.

He pointed out that Chin Peng was not the first to rebel against the British, saying the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) or Young Malays Union began an independence movement before World War 2 but it did not get much support as it was leaning towards the left.

Other parties such as the Malay Nationalist Party, Angkatan Belia Insaf and Putera were also thought to be influenced by communism.

"Only after KMM came Chin Peng and the CPM. Chin Peng fought to set up a communist dictatorship where he can be the dictator," Dr Mahathir wrote in his popular www.chedet.cc weblog today. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/28540-dr-m-says-chin-peng-move-undermines-umnos-freedom-fight)

[pywong]

RPK is suggesting that the Chin Peng and the Kelantan Royalty issues are a sandiwara (stage play) to spook the Malays back to UMNO.

When it comes to Malays, religion, language and Kedaulatan Melayu are all it takes. These are the Malay Sacred Cows. And we all know that Sacred Cows are……well…. Sacred Cows. And you do not touch Sacred Cows.

The Malay Sacred Cow Syndrome

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 18:03

Yes, sentiments and emotions are a difficult foe to fight. Dr Mahathir realised this and said so. And even Dr Mahathir found no solution. And sentiments and emotions are really not too difficult to play up.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Highlight communist atrocities via the media. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22728/84/)

[pywong]

Uphold the Spirit of Reconciliation in the Haadyai Peace Accords

Posted by admin
Thursday, 04 June 2009 16:11

Written by Lee Ban Chen, CPI

Twenty years ago, the Haadyai Peace Accords were signed between our government and the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), which ended the protracted anti-British-turned-civil war, and marked the beginning of national reconciliation process beneficial to national unity and nation building as a whole.

Among other things, CPM’s contributions to the independence process was finally recognized by our government when Datuk Rahim Noor, the then IGP and head of government negotiating team, made an announcement that “Malaysia did not deny or dispute the CPM’s contribution to the struggle for independence.”

Besides, according to Chin Peng’s lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira, Clause 3.1 of the Peace Accords also stipulates that the former CPM members who have laid down their arms and desire to return home to Malaysia should be allowed to do so freely. In other words, if our government had abided by the Peace Accords, Chin Peng should have been allowed to return home together with his comrades 20 years ago.

Since the government had turned down Chin Peng’s application to return home to Malaysia, he had no choice but to take legal action through the High Court, Appeal Court and Federal Court. These courts of justice were equally adamant that he should produce documents such as birth and citizenship certificates to prove his origins in Malaysia.

This is an impossible demand for Chin Peng who possesses no such documents due to the years of war turmoil. The fact that Chin Peng was born in Setiawan, Perak is well known inside and outside the country and any sibling or close relative of his can easily testify for him on this matter. Demanding that he produces documents of birth and citizenship is merely a pretext to deprive him of his right of residence based on the principle of Jus Soli. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22790/84/)

[pywong]

If China can be forgiven so can Chin Peng, says Anwar

By Neville Spykerman

[Anwar talking to members at the PKR special national congress this morning. - Picture by Choo Choy May]

Anwar talking to members at the PKR special national congress this morning. - Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today lashed out at those who are turning Chin Peng’s wish to return to Malaysia into a racial issue.

He said the former leader of the Communist Party of Malaysia (CPM) was just an old man who wished to end his day in the country.

Anwar said if Malaysia could forgive communist China who supported the insurgency in Malaya at the time, there was no reason not to forgive Chin Peng. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/29390-if-china-can-be-forgiven-so-can-chin-peng-says-anwar)

[pywong]

Why Malays cannot forget the Emergency
Dr Collin Abraham | Jun 15, 09 4:45pm

I refer to the Malaysiakini article, Who is to be blamed - Chin Peng or Tunku?

There has been some reference in the media with regards to the fact that it is the Malays who cannot forget the Emergency' and that ‘class struggles' have no relevance to today's generation'.

Judging from the strong sentiments expressed in the media, there is no question accepting this contention for the simple reason that it was mostly the Malays themselves, compared to all other ethnic/racial groups, who directly suffered in the military ‘war' front.

This involved the vast majority of the local armed as well as auxiliary back-up forces pitched in the forefront of the battle lines. It is not surprising therefore that these Malays should have suffered ‘blood, sweat and tears'.

Not only on the battle front itself but also as a result of certain ‘atrocities' committed by the Malayan Communist Party for instance at ‘Bukit Kepong'.

But the point that must be emphasised is that these Malays were employed as regular members of the colonial armed forces and it was therefore not only their duty, but also the test of their loyalty to defend the British for which they were paid salaries.

Indeed, it is on record that they showed their loyalty in being recognised as some of the fiercest fighters particularly as Special Constables.

The evidence confirms that they would unhesitatingly grab their rifles and rush to the assistance of their friends caught in an ambush, despite it being virtually certain that they themselves might face death.

It is one of the tragedies of the Emergency that the vast majority of the members of the MCP, on the other hand, were among the local Chinese with whom, largely because of overarching institutional divide and rule colonial policies, the relationship with the Malays had never been cordial.

Therefore, understandably, there was also the perception that they were being attacked by immigrant ‘orang Cina'. Indeed, it needs to be recognised that the same scenario, perhaps to a lesser extent, also happened when the army and police fought with the Japanese against the MPAJA which was again predominately Chinese

What this brief overview tells us is that the Malay rakyat were mere ‘pawns' in fighting for the Japanese and the consolidation of British rule with the support of the mainly feudal elitist class (bangsawan) sections of Malay society.

The end result was to re-affirm the political status quo of pre-colonial Malaya after the World War II in that the Malay-MCP relationship as projected by the British was irreversible and intrinsic component of racial conflict. Therefore possibilities of national unity for political independence would be impossible.

There is another important, though seldom mentioned dimension, to the question as to why the Malays cannot forget the Emergency. This is because of the impact of political and religious opposition by Malay social movements against British rule in the struggle for independence.

Documentation provides ample evidence of repression and suppression through repeated arbitrary arrests and indefinite detention of Malays associated with political movements involving the Malay left.

Indeed, the evidence shows that at least one whole ‘kampung' was forcibly relocated on the grounds that its residents were involved in activities associated with political independence.

The ‘punishment' meted out was often equally, if not more devastating, through ‘subtle' means. Members of such movements, their families, and even close relatives were constantly discriminated against for any employment in the government.

More importantly, their children were barred from government scholarships or aby other financial assistance that in some cases continued through the generations

As for class struggles, this question would be an excellent topic for a doctorate thesis, and therefore obviously cannot be dealt with in any detail here.

However if by ‘class' we mean individuals and groups who perceive themselves as being politically alienated, economically below the ‘poverty line', socially isolated and marginalised, then the truth of the matter is not only that ‘class' divisions would be alive but very much relevant for today's generation.

I believe many political analysts would contend that the results of the last general election would reflect voting along class lines. (For an analysis of abject class deprivation in an urban setting I would refer readers to this excellent article).

But the concern here is on ‘class struggle' and perhaps it might be useful to just focus on the contention that there was a ‘struggle' in Pahang that resulted in the formation of the Malay Tenth Regiment of the MCP.

However, little attention is given even today to some of the dire socioeconomic conditions that exist in the rural economy for the vast majority of Malay farmers, agricultural workers, fishermen and odd-job workers.

In the first place they do not receive a regular monthly wage. The implications of this as one of the causal factors for the perpetuation of chronic poverty, and yet continues to be ignored, is quite unbelievable.

Finally, it might be useful to point out that even the devastating impact of annual flooding of the Sungei Pahang and the severe disruption of the basic living standards of the people is only now beginning to be addressed.

As social welfare officers manning 24-hour air-borne relief operations, because the devastation caused by the flooding was so widespread there were even requests to air ‘drop' large cooking pots and pans!

Then again, in our case studies for the Pahang Tenggara Regional Master Plan way back in 1970, we pointed out the impact on annual flooding also in terms of seriously negating the motivation for entrepreneurship and social change.

Our report's conclusion was that the Malays who had very kindly shared their livelong experiences with us certainly did not need a ‘mental revolution'. http://malaysiakini.com/letters/106501