KETUANAN MALAYSIAN has left a new comment on your post "BRING HIM HOME.....":
When we can treat Mat Top with so much misplaced relevance if not reverence, why can’t those corrupt politicians stick to plundering the rakyat and leave history to judge Chin Peng.
I don’t think Chin Peng is asking for any recognition for his role in the fight against the British to remove their yoke on the Malayans. For those who have read or heard of Spencer Chapman’s excellent account in "The Jungle is Neutral" may see Chin Peng in different informed light. Chin Peng only turned his guns against the British when he recognized that the British was merely making use of Force 136 to make a return to this country and continued to rape the economy of this country. This recount of Force 136 and its role in fighting the Japanese, will make those aware of this part of our Malayan history will judge Chin Peng as being a part of the process where Malaysians are striving to make this beautiful land a land of the free and a land where all Malaysians can have a small place under the sun.
That book, and Noel Barber's The War of The Running Dogs give insight in much better way to understand the war Chin Peng had waged was waged because PKM was the only well organized political party that had the real capability to challenge British prolonged rule over Malaya.
ReplyDeleteThe bitterness over Chin Peng is why he had to continue with the war even after independence and that was when his intention became suspect. What was then his cause for the second struggle that took another 22 years to end?
But what good is it to think about it now that the war has been over for 20 years.
Chin Peng is our living legend be it a hero or a villain.
I don't see any reasons to stop him from returning. It is clearly stated in the agreement, why can't we abide by it.
ReplyDeleteGiving the reasons seeing our soldiers being shot and suffering is not the answer. This has been well argued by FMZam, Alshukor and others.
Perhaps the real reason for not allowing him to return is to stop him from revealing certain information detrimental the army's pride.????
Personally, I don't endorse physical violence as a way to resolve problems - even though I'm sympathetic to ongoing efforts to liberate all species from tyranny and exploitation. Chin Peng was a great general and warrior and his youthful idealism and masterful leadership deserve to be acknowledged, even if the harsh realities of warfare inevitably distort and deform all ideals. Certainly, it's absurd of the Malaysian government to ban Chin Peng from visiting Sitiawan or spending his final days in his homeland. All those who say he cannot be allowed back in for all the trouble he caused and the numerous casualties inflicted are talking complete rubbish. As many have already pointed out, they might as well call for an end to economic and diplomatic ties with Japan and Germany for the damage they inflicted during World War II. Why stop there? Let's kick out the US embassy from Malaysia for supporting Israel and its unconscionable atrocities against the Palestinians! As to whether I shall jump on the bandwagon and agitate for granting Chin Peng his heart's desire... well, I can at least support your "Bring Him Home" campaign, Hussein, but to be frank I don't feel particularly passionate about this issue.
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