The coordinator of the group that brought back former Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general Chin Peng's cremated remains has expressed bemusement over the authorities' reaction.
Chai Kan Fook, when contacted, said he and his group merely wanted to fulfil Chin Peng's (above) last wish to return home.
“We’re old and just want to spend our days peacefully, bring back Chin Peng’s remains, and bring the whole issue to a close with a small announcement," he said.
Chai, 81, said he was puzzled that the act of bringing back the cremains can be construed as a breach of peace.
"Does that mean cremains are more powerful than nuclear weapons? I don’t understand this,” he said.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed said yesterday the police are investigating Chai's group under Section 504 and 505(b) of the Penal Code, as well as Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act.
Section 504 and 505(b) deal with insults intended to provoke a breach of peace and statements likely to cause public fear, while Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act deals with improper use of network facilities.
Chai (above) said he has yet to be summoned by police but will cooperate with investigations as long as he is well treated.
The Home Ministry is also investigating whether the cremains had been smuggled in, without the proper clearance for bringing human remains past the border.
Chin Peng, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, had led an insurgency as the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Malaya until it was disbanded following the 1989 Peace Agreement of Hat Yai.
He was born in Setiawan, Perak, in 1924, and died in exile in Bangkok on Sept 16, 2013.
On Tuesday, Chai announced that his group had brought back Chin Peng’s cremains from Thailand on Sept 16 this year, and had scattered them on the same day.
He had said the cremains were scattered in the jungles of the Titiwangsa mountain range, and in the sea near Lumut.
Chai said Chin Peng's farewell letter, which was first released when he passed away, was also read out during a memorial service.
Chai claimed his actions promoted peace and said only "extremists" were unhappy about the move.
He also dismissed claims that the move could trigger a revival of communism in Malaysia.
“Can a dead man’s cremains be used to revive (communism)?
“An urn of cremains is all it takes to revive communism? That’s just too much! This is ridiculous, why make such a fuss?” he said, adding that Chin Peng does not have the power to be resurrected.
Chai said he and his friends were too old to carry out any communist activity.
“How are we, at the ages of 70 and 80, going to revive communism? In two years or so we’ll be gone,” he said. - Mkini
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