Is it okay to kill innocents, MCA asks Zahid

The Home Ministry's justification that Muslim terrorists were allowed to be buried in Malaysia but not Chin Peng as they did not spill Malaysian blood is akin to endorsing killing of innocent people abroad, says MCA publicity bureau chief Heng Seah Kie.

She was referring to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Wan Junaidi Wan Tuanku Jaafar's defence of the decision to allow the burial of two Malaysian terrorists, responsible for a string of bombing incidents in Indonesia, in their homeland.

"It could be easily misinterpreted and misconstrued by the rakyat that both of them feel that it is okay to kill innocent people of other countries so long as they are not Malaysians.

"Worse, it might also send out a wrong message to the world that we endorse terrorism as long as the killing is not done here and they are not targeting our military or police force," Heng (right) said in a press statement today.

MCA had previously called for forgiveness for Chin Peng andqueried the government's insistence in denying the former Communist Party of Malaya's remains' burial in the country.

Heng flayed Wan Junaidi for suggesting that MCA was free to voice its opinion but ultimately the final decision rests with the government.

On what drove BN supporters away

"Is Wan Junaidi trying to say that MCA is not part of BN which is the current ruling government?

"In fact, it was this kind of attitude by leaders like wan Junaidi which had angered and driven away many of our BN supporters in the 13th general election," she said.

While MCA was against communism, Heng said the administration should respect the Hat Yai Peace Accord which allowed the right of return for ex-communists who had laid down arms.

"With reference to the Hat Yai Peace Accord and based on humanitarian grounds, I would like to once again urge the government to review its decision and allow Chin Peng's ashes to be buried in Malaysia...

"As a sign of forgiveness and goodwill to his family, as well as a sign of compassion in fulfilling the last will of an old man," she said.