KUALA LUMPUR: The controversy surrounding former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng’s ashes isn’t simply about reopening old wounds, but that more than 40 years on, the wound themselves have yet to fully heal.
Academicians and historians believe that the act of bringing home the ashes is akin to a slap in the face for the next of kin of more than 20,000 Malaysians who died in the fight against the Communist insurgency.
They believe that the debate should not revolve around race or religion, given that many among the Chinese community were also victims of CPM’s decades-long reign of violence.
Professor Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong, who is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Ethnic Studies Principal Research Fellow, said people had to fully understand the extent of the damage inflicted by CPM, led by Chin Peng.
The losses, he said, was not just to the economy, but also in the form of numerous lives.
“The country and its people had to endure four decades of suffering due to Chin Peng’s attempt to turn the country into a communist state.
“Their trail of infrastructure destruction hurt the economy.
“It hit not just the Malays but was also felt deeply by people of other races, including those of Chinese descent.”
Teo said the issue involving Chin Peng transcended race and religion as the former CPM secretary-general was colour blind when wreaking havoc.
He cited the killings of members of the armed forces and policemen, including the assassination of Tan Sri Khoo Chong Kong, who was then Perak police chief, on Nov 13, 1975 to demonstrate his point that Chin Peng’s victims comprised all races.
Teo said members of the Chinese community were engaged as spies for the armed forces and police to infiltrate CPM.
When their identities were discovered, they were killed by Chin Peng’s men.
“That is why I do not agree with the narrative suggesting that only the Malays were affected by the violence of CPM.
“It also affected the Chinese community.”
His views were echoed by historian Professor Datuk Dr Ramlah Adam, who said issues related to Chin Peng should not be viewed along racial or religious lines.
She said many prominent Malay leaders were in the 10th Regiment, the Malay wing of CPM.
She said the communist ideology propagated by Chin Peng went against every single one of the five tenets of the Rukun Negara.
“The CPM’s action of pressing ahead with its aim of turning the country into a communist state even after Malaya gained independence violated the spirit of the Rukun Negara.
“The violence and wanton destruction caused by the CPM showed that the group was disloyal towards the king and country, and that they did not respect the Constitution, as well as the rule of law.”
Teo and Ramlah concurred that the action of bringing Chin Peng’s ashes into Malaysia was an insult to the sacrifices of numerous servicemen and civilians who lost their lives defending the nation.
On Tuesday, news broke that Chin Peng’s ashes had been brought into Malaysia on Sept 16.
A memorial attended by 150 people was reportedly held in Ipoh.
The previous government had issued a warning against bringing his remains or ashes back to Malaysia.
Despite the warning, the committee which brought his ashes back scattered them in two locations in Perak.
Police have since pledged to investigate the matter.
Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua, was the most prominent leader of CPM, which waged war against the government during the Malayan Emergency in an attempt to establish an independent communist state.
After Malaya gained independence, Chin Peng waged a second campaign against the government in 1968 to replace the administration with a communist regime.
This period saw Chin Peng’s forces ambush military convoys, bomb national monuments, and assassinate police officers and political targets.
Peace with the Malaysian government was brokered in 1989 with the signing of the Peace Agreement of Hat Yai.
Despite appealing to return to Malaysia several times, Chin Peng’s bids were rejected by the government.
He died in exile in Bangkok, Thailand, in September 2013. He was 88.