The politics of Chin Peng’s ashes

COMMENT | What is the problem of bringing in Chin Peng’s ashes into the country to be dispersed in the sea and in the jungles?

I concur with the former inspector general of police Rahim Nor that dispersing the ashes of the exiled communist leader has nothing to do with the fear of the spread of communism in the country.

Communism is long gone and dead. In 1989, a treaty was signed by the Malaysian government and the Communist Party of Malaya where the party agreed to put down arms as the communist ideology and strategy had failed.

Therefore, I'm perplexed that certain quarters are now saying that the dispersal of Chin Peng's ashes could reignite communism in Malaysia.

Umno’s secretary-general Annuar Musa had said we should respect the dead but later sought to qualify his statement by stating whether the ashes were brought in legally and if sentiments of the families of servicemen killed in action against the communist were taken into consideration.

Since the Opposition MPs have no credible issues to debate, they pounced on the matter by highlighting if the government was complicit in allowing the ashes to be repatriated.

I doubt the government had allowed for the ashes to be brought in, let alone dispersed on Malaysian soil.

Malaysians fought a bloody war against the communist regime for many years. Finally, the peace deal in Hat Yai, Thailand, brought the conflict to a permanent halt.

Now, there’s no necessity to make a mountain out of a molehill over the issue of Chin Peng's ashes, especially among the Opposition MPs.

Even if the ashes were not legally brought in, why the big fuss?

Are Opposition MPs saying that the dispersal might rekindle interest in communism? I would not be surprised.

Let's look at our history. Britain colonised Malaya for its riches. However, today, we have no issues with the British. We even copied its political system and acquired the English language.

The short period of the Japanese occupation during World War II saw untold misery towards the population, especially the Chinese community.

Hundreds of thousands died during the occupation, but we have no problems with the Japanese now. 

In fact, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had even suggested that there was no need for an apology.

The US dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the Japanese aggression.

Thousands died and generations continue to suffer the devastation caused by these bombs.

However, the Japanese government did not cut ties with the US. They are strong partners in trade and geopolitical strategy.

Therefore, Chin Peng's ashes should not be turned into a political or racial fracas. The police may probe if permission was sought to bring in the remains legally, but to talk of the revival of communist is sheer madness.

Just like arresting the 12 persons for links with the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The terror organisation is dead and buried in the quicksands of time.

For Umno and PAS politicians fresh from the Tanjung Piai by-election victory, the ashes represent a golden platform to further embarrass the Pakatan Harapan government. Perhaps, this is the nature of their politics.

So, ashes or not let us move on. 

P RAMASAMY is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also deputy chief minister II of Penang.

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