Emotions ran high at a press conference called by the country's veteran soldiers on the issue of allowing ex-communist leader Chin Peng to return to Malaysia.

Apart from suggesting the use of the Internal Security Act against those who backed the notion, one former serviceman who lost his right foot in battle with the communists, said: "People who call for his return and support communism should be shot dead."

army veteran's against chin peng's return 010609 01 Veteran Soldiers of Malaysia Association president Muhammad Abdul Ghani asked the rationale in allowing Chin Peng to return after all the atrocities he had committed.

"Anyone who recommends and supports Chin Peng's request to return should be punished and detained under ISA," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

"The people who want him to return must also be communists and support the ideology of communism," he surmised.

Muhammad also warned that allowing Chin Peng to return to Malaysia would be akin to authorising the reformation of the banned movement again.

Chin Peng, 85, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, has been living in exile in Bangkok and had sought permission from the government to be allowed to return home.

He was the chief of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) from 1948 to 1989 and gained prominence during the guerilla war against the Japanese in Malaya.

However, he fought for the formation of a communist government after Malaysia achieved independence in 1957.

'He should be punished, not pardoned'

Muhammad said over 5,000 armed personnels including soldiers and policemen were killed and injured severely during the insurgency from 1948 to 1989.

"Therefore any show of compassion or sympathy towards an ex-member of the communist party is a form of betrayal and treachery to those who gave their lives for this country," he said.

chin peng and communist malaya Muhammad was referring to calls by several political parties namely Gerakan and PSM, as well as non-governmental movement Citizen International, to allow Chin Peng to return home on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Also present at the press conference were nine soldiers who had fought during the insurgency back in the 70s.

army veteran's against chin peng's return 010609 hamzah hassan Retired Corporal Hamzah Hassan, 55, who lost his right foot during an ambush in Perak in 1978, said he could never forgive the communists for the deaths of his friends in the army.

"Chin Peng should be punished for his crimes, not be given a pardon... he should be given the treatment he deserves for all the violence he caused," said the angry retired soldier.

Chin Peng had also lost his court battle to return home. His application was rejected when he could not produce his birth certificate and Malaysian citizenship documents.

The government had also dismissed the possibility of allowing the former communist leader to return.

On different matter, Muhammad called on the government to review the pension scheme of retired soldiers especially those who were disabled.

He said that he was seeking a meeting with Deputy Minister of Defence Abdul Latiff Ahmad to discuss a revamp of the scheme as there were 1,630 soldiers who were disabled and needed urgent attention.