Issue of Chin Peng’s ashes 'deliberately politicised'

The issue surrounding the cremains of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng has been deliberately politicised, said Hat Yai Peace Coalition chairperson Indrajaya Abdullah (above).

He said that in a multiracial society like Malaysia, opinions or behaviour that one does not necessarily agree with should be more tolerable. 

“Let’s look at the Chin Peng ashes conundrum. There is the view that some politicians may want to use that as an issue (to be politicised)," he told Malaysiakini after an event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hat Yai Peace Accord in Songkla, Thailand, yesterday.

"As a multiracial country, Malaysia should have the spirit of tolerance, but with what is happening now, I do not feel much of this tolerance exists," Indrajaya added.

"For Thailand, we feel free and there has been no discrimination over such matters.” 

The event, which took place at Lee Garden Hotel, was attended by around 1,000 people, including Thai senators, former Thai army leaders and former CPM members from Thailand and Malaysia, along with their families.

The peace accord commemoration is held every year in Hat Yai and is organised on a bigger scale every five years to memorialise the peace treaty between CPM, the Thai government and the Malaysian government in 1989.

Chin Peng was born Ong Boon Hua in Sitiawan, Perak, in 1924. He had resided in Thailand since the peace accord was signed.

On Nov 26, issues involving CPM came under the spotlight after it was reported that Chin Peng, who died in 2013, had his ashes repatriated to Malaysia on Sept 16.

The return of his ashes has since elicited criticism from various quarters and the police have started an investigation into the matter.

Indrajaya said the situation in Malaysia was different from how the Thai community and the government viewed the CPM.

He said the Thai government has treated them well, without discrimination after the Hat Yai Peace Accord.

“They (Thailand) see communism as a point of view, same with others who have different viewpoints. This is in line with the spirit of equality. However, it is different in Malaysia," Indrajaya said.

“But we are relieved with (Malaysian) Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s explanation, which we think makes sense, though we were worried initially. But, as I’ve said, it is actually a small issue but politicised on purpose. 

"It’s just ashes, so what’s the issue?” 

Previously, Mahathir had said the issue of Chin Peng’s ashes was purposely used to cast a bad light on the Pakatan Harapan government.  - Mkini