Vets urge nation to move on over Chin Peng’s ashes

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 28 Nov 2019 11:40AM · 2 Comments

Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng was denied entry to Malaysia when he was alive but his relatives brought his ashes home recently. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 28, 2019.

VETERAN serviceman Capt (rtd) Dr Wong Ang Peng was wounded in battle with the communists but said he has no issue with the return of Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng’s ashes to Malaysia.

Wong, a National Patriots’ Association (Patriots) member, said it’s a private matter for Chin Peng’s relatives to bring back his ashes and scatter them in Perak.

“Personally, I have no anger towards him, even though I was injured by an enemy bullet sustained in the Gunung Korbu incident on June 1, 1979.

“We have to learn to let go. Chin Peng has long passed away (and) his ashes brought back by his relatives is their private matter. He merely occupies a historical part where our nation had a tough beginning and was trapped in between the influence of rising communist ideology and Western capitalism. 

“That part of history is gone. Communism has no significance in today’s fast-growth and explosive wealth creation. Chin Peng is history, let it rest,” Wong told The Malaysian Insight.

The Gunung Korbu incident in Hulu Kinta, Perak involved armed jungle combat between Malaysian forces and the CPM.

Wong said many youths who joined CPM at the time were “misguided”, as CPM started out as a group of freedom fighters before turning into Malaysia’s enemy after Merdeka.

“Those who surrendered have repented. They are also Malaysians like anyone of us.” 

The return and scattering of Chin Peng’s ashes was revealed two days ago, by a group that handled the remains.

Police are investigating the group, while opposition MPs from Umno and PAS have protested against the return of the communist leader’s ashes.

The communist insurgency remains a bitter memory for many older Malaysians, even though a peace treaty was signed in 1989 between the CPM, Malaysia and Thailand. With the treaty, CPM laid down arms and disbanded.

Chin Peng, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, was born in 1924. He died aged 89 on September 16, 2013, in Thailand, where he had been living in exile since the peace treaty.

Under the 1989 treaty, CPM members and leaders were allowed to return to Malaysia with conditions.

Chin Peng mounted a legal challenge to be allowed to return to Malaysia but failed at the Federal Court level in 2009. His lawyers said he had written many times to the government for permission to return but was always denied.

Another former uniformed personnel without any issue with the return of Chin Peng’s ashes is former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor, who signed the peace treaty with CPM on behalf of Malaysia.

Rahim highlighted the terms of the treaty allowing the return of CPM leaders to Malaysia and said since the agreement allowed for this, the return of Chin Peng’s ashes should not be made a problem.  – November 28, 2019.

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Comments

  • Malaysia has become a dictatorship. The Tiger of Jelutong has been silenced, Lim Kit Siang only speaks in innuendos. Many of PH Malay leadership do not like sharing powers with Non-Malays and continue to berate and scare non-Malays ( in particular the Chinese). That is why as far as Chin Peng is concerned, it was planned that the DPM would raise objections, other prominent Malays will object, police will investigate-But Mahathir will say he does not seen any problem with Chin Peng's remains coming to Malaysia....hello...all this planned-lah to put down the Chinese fellas. Chin Peng is dead, we have only his ashes.

    But Zakir Naik, the infamous terrorist is here-who is worse than Chin Peng-wanted by many countries. Why does PM need Naik?
    Zakir Naik can whip the Muslims into a frenzy against the non-Muslims. And once whipped into a frenzy, these Muslims can then be unleashed to run amok and do whatever it is that Umno, Pas or any Muslim leader in Malaysia would want to do to the non-Muslims. Zakir Naik can work his magic and persuade Muslims that the proper thing to do is for Muslims to support Muslims unconditionally. And all this and more Umno, Pas and any other Muslim leader will want to do if that is what is needed to maintain political hegemony over all things Malaysians. They can use Zakir to do their dirty deeds for them.

    That is why, to put fear in many people-including Muslims, Chinese & Indians. Why else will Zakir Nik be in Malaysia?

    Posted 6 years ago by Elizaberth Stanley · Reply

  • This is a wayang.....nothing wrong in bringing his ashes. Overseas , everyone laughing at this stupidity.Feel sorry for the chinese, as this is directed to that community.

    Posted 6 years ago by Frederick Pereira · Reply