Don't allow communist ideology to creep back in

LETTER | The dust appears to be settling after the contentious period since Chin Peng’s ashes were brought back to his hometown in Sitiawan and dispersed. 

The statement by the organisers soon after raised the ire of many veterans of the security forces and even some serving armed forces and police personnel.

Having served during the first and second emergencies, I feel I must say my piece on the subject. First and foremost, one must understand and appreciate the veterans’ annoyance and anger because Chin Peng was the leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), whose members refused to lay down their arms after independence. He and his party decided to fight us, just like they did the British and the Japanese. 

Our security forces and civilians suffered over four decades engaging the communist terrorists. Many security forces personnel lost their lives or limbs from fighting the communists or being maimed by their booby traps. Our injured became handicapped and suffered miserably, unable to live a normal life. Their families suffered along with them in looking after these unfortunate veterans. 

I knew of one police officer who carried a grenade shrapnel lodged in his body that the doctors felt was too risky to remove. He suffered pain from time to time until his demise last year in his late 80s, having lived with it for well over 40 years. 

Everyone should understand why these veterans and their families find it hard to forgive and forget. Unless one has the empathy and sensitivity, one cannot imagine the disconsolate life the disabled veterans and their families have had to lead. I sympathise with these injured veterans and their families. 

Having stated this, let me say that the return of Chin Peng’s ashes is not my main issue. The ashes have been dispersed and cannot be reversed and I am prepared to move on.

The core of my concern is if there is a devious attempt to revive the communist ideology. What took place in Sitiawan may simply have been some funeral rites. But the gathering in Kajang recently and the speeches by some individuals, made me very uncomfortable and concerned. 

Apparently it was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Hat Yai Peace Accord between the government and the CPM. I do not know what exactly transpired in Kajang but the timely investigations initiated by the police was the right thing to do. Let us wait patiently for the outcome of the investigations.

Our security forces and the public fought the communist ideology and armed insurgency, so we must not allow it to creep back in through the back door. 

The communist ideology is incompatible with our democratic principles and our Constitution. The revival or propagation of the communist ideology must never be allowed if we wish to remain a peaceful nation. 

There should be no compromise whatsoever on this. We must never let our guard down.

The writer is a Rear Admiral (Rtd) and was the first chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (1967-1976).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.