KUALA LUMPUR: Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham today said the government needed to honour the terms of the agreement signed between the government of Malaysia and leaders of the Communist Party of Malaya.
“If we do not follow this agreement, people will not trust us and will question our integrity. Did the Barisan Nasional government go against this agreement?” he said while debating on the defence ministry’s 2020 Budget debate.
This comes in the wake of opposition from various quarters to the ashes of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng being scattered at a hillside in Chemor, Perak, and at sea off Lumut.
Chin Peng died of cancer in Thailand in 2013, a month before his 89th birthday.
The previous government had issued a warning against bringing his remains or ashes back to Malaysia.
Ngeh read the 1989 agreement that CPM signed with the government in the Dewan Rakyat, that was signed to terminate hostilities. It consisted of four articles.
The first article was on cessation of armed activities upon signing the agreement.
The second was the disbandment of armed units, destruction of arms, ammunition, explosives and booby traps in Malaysia and Thailand, Ngeh added.
He said the third touched on citizenship.
“CPM members and members of the disbanded armed units, who were of Malaysian origin and wished to settle down in Malaysia, were to be allowed to do so, in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.”
Ngeh said the second part of the third article touched on members of the communist party, who were not of Malaysian origin, being allowed to settle down in Malaysia.
The last article provides assistance from the Malaysian authorities to the former communist members to begin a peaceful life.
Ngeh said the agreement was signed on Dec 2, 1989 in Haadyai by three senior officials from Malaysia and the CPM.
He said it was signed by former home ministry secretary-general Wan Sidek Wan Abdul Rahman, defence forces chief Hashim Mohd Ali and inspector-general of police Mohd Hanif Omar.
Secretary-general Ong Boon Hua @ Chin Peng, chairman Abdullah CD and central committee member Rashid Maidin signed for the CPM.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said the issue of the ashes being brought to Malaysia is under the home ministry and a probe needs to be carried out.
“We need to know how the ashes were brought in,” he said when replying to questions from BN MPs.
Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) further asked for his opinion as many soldiers had sacrificed their lives in the fight against communists.
Mohamad said he had also contacted former inspector-general of police Rahim Noor to get more information on the agreement signed with CPM.
“I will state my stand after the home ministry finishes its probe,” he added. - FMT
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