Now, Utusan Malaysia says Chin Peng did not die on Malaysia Day

Umno-controlled Utusan Malaysia today claimed that the date of Chin Peng's death was changed so that it would coincide with Malaysia Day.

The paper in its weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia quoted an anonymous source as saying that Chin Peng had died in Bangkok, Thailand, on the evening of September 15, not the morning of September 16 as reported.

The source said September 16 – the anniversary of Malaysia's formation – was chosen so that Chin Peng would be remembered by his supporters as dying on a day important to all Malaysians.

"We received information that this was an agenda planned by certain parties, who wanted to link Chin Peng's death to nationalism," the source told the weekend edition of Utusan Malaysia.

Chin Peng, the former secretary-general of the Communist Party of Malaya, was reported by the Bangkok Post to have died at 6.20am at a hospital.

A three-day wake is being held at the Wat That Thong temple in Bangkok. His will be cremated tomorrow.

Chin Peng's death has caused controversy here, especially because Putrajaya has refused to allow his remains to be brought back.