PUTRAJAYA must stick to its end of the deal in the Hatyai Peace Accord but nothing should stop the attorney-general from prosecuting ex-communist members if they break the law, said former top cop Hanif Omar today.

Speaking at an anti-communism rally this morning, Hanif questioned whether Attorney-General Tommy Thomas would be willing to prosecute any former communist members.

The former inspector-general of police’s remarks comes after a group of ex-communist members held a gathering to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hatyai Peace Accord 1989 earlier this month.

“After the Hatyai Accord, the first batch returned home and I made them swear to never betray the country. You are no longer CPM (Communist Party of Malaya) members once you have entered Malaysia.

“First batch, the second batch and the rest returned. We didn’t just allow them in but they were told to take an oath and agreement.

“The government must hold on to the agreement… but they can be prosecuted if they break the law because the power comes from the A-G.

“(But) we know the attorney-general was Chin Peng’s close friend. Now, we must look at (Thomas),” Haniff said this morning at the rally in Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Some 400 former police officers attended the anti-communism rally that began at 9am.

Hanif was the country’s top cop from 1974 to 1994.

Meanwhile, Retired Senior Police Officers Association of Malaysia (Respa) vice-president Wong Pui Lam said in a statement that any attempt to revive communism in the country could be a violation of the Hatyai Peace Accord.

He said the accord signed between the government and CPM stated that all former members of the party who have been accepted as citizens have to be loyal to the king and country.

The accord was signed in Hatyai, Thailand, on December 2, 1989, ending years of conflict between the government and communist faction.

Earlier this month on December 1, ex-CPM members organised a gathering to commemorate the signing of the treaty.

The gathering in Kajang saw about 300 people in attendance, mostly elderly folk.

Police have launched a probe into the gathering while the Home Ministry has deemed the event illegal.

Police have recorded DAP leader Ronnie Liu’s statement over his attendance at the programme.

Liu’s counsel, Ramkarpal Singh, had said the DAP central executive committee member’s witness statement was taken.

Liu said he had been invited to speak at the event. – December 24, 2019.