If Bali bombers can be buried in Jasin & Pontian, WHY NOT CHIN PENG - Seai Kie slams UMNO RACISM

Former Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s justification that Chin Peng is not a hero and thus, there is no need to bring his ashes back even though there is no law against it ignores the larger context which proponents argue for the Sitiawan-born guerrilla’s return.

Whether Chin Peng is a hero or not is not an issue here. In fact, you do not need to be a hero to be allowed a burial in Malaysia.

If the remains of suspected terrorists like Dr Azahari Husin and Nordin Mohamad Top, both of whom were wanted by the Indonesian governments as they were believed to be responsible for the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings  attack on Jakarta's JW Marriott hotel in 2003, and one on the Australian embassy in 2004, are allowed to be given a decent burial in Jasin and Pontian respectively, likewise Chin Peng’s ashes too should be allowed to return.

The Barisan Nasional government does not need anymore bad publicity of being seen as making decisions based on racial lines.

Chin Peng was a resistance fighter against the Japanese Imperial Army. The British government even awarded him the Order of the British Empire and he also participated in the London victory parade after World War II ended.

While his OBE was subsequently withdrawn for his insurgency against the British colonial forces, it should be pointed out that unlike the two terrorists as named above whose goal was terrorism and targets were innocent tourists or anything deemed Western, Chin Peng’ war was to secure Independence no different from Indonesians resorting to armed struggle against Dutch colonials.

The only difference is that his battles hinged on Communist ideology which Malayans at large rejected. His targets were security forces but unfortunately in the process, civilians were annihilated too.

Born and bred in Malaya, everyone, including Chin Peng has the right to be interred in Malaysia. On humanitarian grounds, we should honour this nonagenarian’s last wishes. After all, what harm can his ashes do to the country?

On the other hand, there are no laws in this country which forbids anyone who intends to have last rites and his resting place here.

In respect of the Haadyai Peace Accord, Malaysia should honour the clauses agreed upon so as to uphold the integrity and credibility of our government. Furthermore, since other Communist Party of Malaya leaders like Syed Hamid Ali and Shamsiah Faekah were allowed to return to reside in Malaysia, why not the same be applied to Chin Peng?

Datuk Heng Seai Kie
MCA Publicity Bureau chairman
MCA Deputy National Organising Secretary