The Malaysian Insider

NOV 24 - Beg your pardon, Mr Deputy Prime Minister, did we hear your correctly? No forgiving Chin Peng, you say?

Perhaps matters of the state, changing the education system’s medium of instruction back to Bahasa Malaysia and settling the issues of your ally, the MCA, has got you befuddled?

It isn’t really about Malaysia forgiving Chin Peng, the nom de guerre of one Mr Ong Boon Hua – Public Enemy Number One, secretary-general of the Communist Party of Malaya and holder of two British war medals.

The country is past that already. Chin Peng won’t be forgiven for waging war against Malaya, and subsequently Malaysia. Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the Emergency and he balked at surrendering at the 1955 Baling Talks with Tunku Abdul Rahman.

That is our history and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, you remember it well. As do most of us who read History in the Malaysian education system.

Be that as it may, this time allowing Chin Peng back to Malaysia is about legal obligations. It is about honouring the peace agreement signed in Hatyai on Dec 2, 1989. And the agreement reads that those who laid down their arms can return home.

Even one of the signatories on the Malaysian side, the former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor, had agreed to testify on Chin Peng’s behalf about provisions of the peace agreement. Therefore Chin Peng’s request is not unusual and within his right.

But your comments today are symptomatic of an administration which has a cavalier attitude towards the law and the sanctity of contracts. Is it any wonder why Malaysians have little faith in the enforcement and judicial arms of the government?

After all, your government can’t even honour an agreement made with its former enemies.

Chin Peng had asked for forgiveness and Malaysia has the right of not forgiving him. Nothing can bring back the lives of those who died or suffered at the hands of the communist terrorists after independence in 1957.

But the country and the government has no right to bar Chin Peng from coming home. The 85-year-old man wants to make peace with his dead parents and return to his hometown, no matter the hatred from neighbours or other Malaysians.

That will be the cross he will have to bear for the rest of his life for taking up arms against Malaysia. You said it right, Mr DPM, “As of now, there is no forgiveness for you (Tiada maaf bagimu).”

However, can we forgive you for shaming Malaysia by not honouring the agreement? Pray tell.

Comments (51)

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form