Respect Chin Peng next-of-kin’s wishes - Annuar Musa

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa said the wishes of the next-of-kin of the Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng should be respected, as long as they don’t break the law.

Citing Prophet Muhammad’s example in respecting the remains of non-Muslims, he said he has no issues with Chin Peng’s cremains being repatriated to Malaysia.

“Firstly, our responsibilities are mostly towards the living and not the dead. However, in religious terms, when the Prophet deals with the remains of non-Muslims, he respects them.

“That means the Prophet pays his respects to the deceased irrespective of religion as long as it doesn’t contradict our religion.

“Since we are not a ruling party, we can speak as a political party or an individual. I think should respect the wishes of the next-of-kin as long as it is not illegal,” he told a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Chin Peng, which is the nom de guerre of Ong Boon Hua, had died in exile in Thailand in 2013, but his remains were not allowed to be brought across the border.

This was until Sept 16 this year, when the cremains were brought in from Thailand and quietly scattered in the jungles of the Titiwangsa mountain range and the sea near Lumut.

The event was not made public until it was disclosed at a press conference in Ipoh this afternoon, more than two months later.

Although Chin Peng had been ‘public enemy number one’, Annuar said it does not matter once the communist leader had died.

“Chin Peng and others are the same once they die. Our problems are with people who are still alive.

“So, we have no issues since we are no longer in power,” he said.

However, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak appeared to have taken a contrary stance towards the repatriation of Chin Peng’s remains.

He took to Facebook to question Pakatan Harapan for allowing the controversial move amid heightened racial tensions.

“Why is the Pakatan Harapan government so desperate that it would allow Chin Peng’s cremains to return quietly?

“Would this revive our deteriorating economy? Who in the Pakatan Harapan government allowed this?

“Many people have chastised the Harapan government when they erected a monument to Japanese soldiers. Now they are doing it again this year? For what?” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry reportedly said it would investigate the veracity of the claim that Chin Peng’s remains had been brought back to Malaysia.

It also stood firm on its previous stance of not allowing his remains to be repatriated.

Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman (above) was quoted telling Harian Metro that the ministry is in the dark over the matter.

“To date, no application has been received (seeking to repatriate Chin Peng’s remains) and the Home Ministry is not aware that Chin Peng’s cremains had already been brought back on Sept 16 as reported by the news portal (Malaysiakini).

“The Home Ministry was only notified after receiving queries from various parties including the media today,” he said.

He said the investigation would determine whether Chin Peng’s remains had indeed been brought back, and legal action can be taken against those who brought back the remains or had facilitated its return. - Mkini