KUALA LUMPUR - It looks like even in death, the malice and political spite of Malaysia's ruling party, Umno, knows no bounds.
Former Communist chief Chin Peng, born in Sitiawan, died in a Bangkok hospital unable to return to his land of birth despite having contributed to the fight for Malaysia's independence from British rule, which was finally granted in 1957.
"On this day as Malaysia celebrates 50years of nationhood, we lost a patriot who had fought for national independence. RIP Uncle Chin Peng," tweeted MP for Batu Tian Chua.
"90yr-old Chin Peng's passing in Bangkok marks end of an era. Whether one agrees or not with his struggle, his place in history is assured," tweeted MP for Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang.
That's right. Whether Umno leaders like it or not, Chin Peng and his legacy will be interpreted and remembered by the people based on their judgement. It can be positive or negative.
'Trigger-happy' Malaysian government
But for a government to demand that any person, whether living or dead, be demonized is beyond what is palatable.
It is downright evil and forebodes badly for the future of Malaysia, now in the grip of a very insecure ruling party that is 'trigger-happy' and desperate enough to burn and destroy whatever is 'inconvenient' to them just to cling to power.
Perhaps Umno, who steadfastly refused to allow Chin Peng to return to his land of birth, feared that this might threaten their re-written version of Malayan history or that a Pandora's Box of their dishonest deeds might be opened for the younger generation to sight.
Whatever the dark reasons, spiteful Umno leaders can be expected to 'ga-ga' in the weeks ahead and trash with all their might the life, times and contribution of one of Malaysia's most controversial sons.
From The Malaysian Insider: Minister reminds Malaysians to never forget Chin Peng was a “terrorist leader”
Malaysians must never forget that Chin Peng, who died in Bangkok today, was a “terrorist leader” and his quest for an independent communist state had left thousands of security personnel dead and families without loved ones, said the Home Minister.
“I want Chin Peng to be remembered as a terrorist leader. The security forces which had fought a bloody war with him still cannot forget or forgive him for the atrocities during the Malayan insurgency,” Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.
The Home Ministry had always objected to Chin Peng’s return to Malaysia, even though a peace agreement signed between the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and the government in 1989 had allowed his return.
Chin Peng's death was reported by Bangkok Post today. He would have turned 90 this October 21.
The daily also said that his relatives would conduct religious rites this Friday.
Chin Peng led the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) guerrilla insurgency and fought against British and Commonwealth forces to establish an independent Communist state.
Chin Peng, whose real name was Ong Boon Hua, had been living in exile, mostly in Thailand, after the party signed an agreement in Haadyai in 1989 to end hostilities.
The Haadyai agreement was inked on December 2, 1989 by CPM leaders and senior government officials representing Malaysia and Thailand and signalled the end of the decades-long jungle war in the two countries.
The agreement also allowed for CPM members to return home, if they so desired, but till the end, Putrajaya refused to allow him back.
From Malaysiakini: Perkasa - Dead or alive, he must not return
Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said his group will oppose any attempts to bring back Chin Peng's remains to Malaysia.
In an immediate reaction to the former Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general's death today, he said he was not surprised with Chin Peng's death as he is old and should have passed on long ago.
“As with the issue whether the remains should be brought back or not, in my opinion it should not be. If when he was alive we object to him returning to Malaysia. Even in death, his remains should not be allowed to be buried here," he said.
According the Bangkok Post, Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua in 1924, had died at a Bangkok Hospital at 6.20am this morning, due to old age.
To Ibrahim, Chin Peng is not only a communist leader who was violent, but is also a criminal.
He said an individual like the Communist leader should be erased from the annals of the country's history, away from the eyes of the younger generation.
"(The communist insurgency is) a dark moment in the country's history which should serve as a lesson but not the history of a terrorist or criminal who destroy a country.
"It is better for Malaysians to remember the history of Tan Cheng Lock and Tan Siew Sin and others like them and not Chin Peng. It is better to forget Chin Peng,” he said in a text message to Malaysiakini.
Similar sentiments were shared by Senator Mohamad Ezam Mohd Noor on Twitter.
"To the Chin Peng symphatisers - including NGOs and opposition figures - if you want to defend Chin Peng's rights (to return), it is better that you follow his footsteps by leaving and dying outside the country," he said.
Chin Peng is not a M'sian citizen, reminds IGP
Should the government allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general Chin Peng's remains to return to Malaysia?
For inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, the question shouldn't arise as, technically, Chin Peng is not a Malaysian citizen.
"Although he was born in Sitiawan, he is not a Malaysian citizen. He never took up citizenship when he joined the CPM. I believe he is happy to be buried where he spent most of his time.
"I'm not sure whether he obtained a citizenship from Thailand, but he is not a Malaysian," said Khalid in a text message reply to Malaysiakini.
Chin Peng had once submitted to the Federal Court that he was born on October 1924 in Sitiawan and never had his citizenship revoked nor was he banished from the country.
He claimed that his birth certificate was lost when he tried to escape from the authorities during the Emergency period.
Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua in 1924, was pronounced dead at 6.20am this morning in a hospital in Bangkok.
From NST: CHRONOLOGY OF CHIN PENG’S LIFE
Ong Boon Hua, better known as Chin Peng, the notorious leader of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), was born in October 1924 in the small seaside town of Sitiawan, Perak.
Oct 22, 1924 : Born as Ong Boon Hua in a small seaside town of Sitiawan, in Perak state, Malaya.
Jan 1940 : Accepted as probationary member of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM); was put in charge of Communist members in Sitiawan.
Dec 1941 : Joins the fight against the Japanese in the Chinese Anti Enemy Backing Up Society (AEBUS).
Jan 10, 1942 : Later joined the first batch of the Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) after AEBUS was dissolved. Became the liaison officer between the MPAJA and the British military in South-East Asia.
March 6, 1947: He was elected the Secretary-General of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
June 16, 1948 : The Malayan colonial administration de clared a state of emergency after members of the MCP killed three European plantation managers at Sungei Siput. The party was declared illegal.
Dec 28, 1955 : Baling Talks was held with David Marshall and Tunku Abdul Rahman. Was unsuccessful because of surrender terms. After the Baling Talks, Chin Peng left to Thailand. Ah Hai replaces him as acting Secretary-General in Malaya.
1960 : The Emergency was declared at an end, however, fighting still continued. The emergency lasted for twelve years.
Dec 2, 1989 : Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin and Abdullah CD met with representatives of the Malaysian and Thai governments and a peace treaty was signed between the communists and the two countries. The emergency war was over.
2005 : Chin Peng was pending to return to Malaysia. His hearing was scheduled for May 25, 2005, and the High Court postponed it to July 25, 2005. This application was subsequently rejected.
June 2008 : Chin Peng's lost his bid to return to Malaysia when the Court of Appeal demanded he showed iden tification papers to prove his Malayan citizenship.
September 2013 : Chin Peng dies of old age in Bangkok, Thailand.
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