Anwar: Let Chin Peng return
Rahmah GhazaliPublished: Jun 13, 2009 3:17 PM | Updated: Jun 13, 2009 7:22 PM
While some would have preferred that the issue be closed, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has today reopened it by calling on the government to allow ex-communist boss Chin Peng return home.
updated 4.30pm
Anwar calls for the government to allow the ex-communist boss come home despite knowing that his statement will be exploited by the mainstream media.
[VIDEO INSIDE]
While some would have preferred that the issue be closed, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has today reopened it by calling on the government to allow ex-communist boss Chin Peng return home.
The PKR de facto leader said Chin Peng should be allowed to “end his days” here as Malaysia has already “made peace” with the communist government of China where even Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had made an official visit to Beijing last week.
“(It seems) like we have forgiven them all, so how could we not forgive just one man for what he had done?
“Chin Peng should be allowed to return home to end his days. It does not however mean we agree with all the mistakes he had committed,” said Anwar at the one-day PKR extraordinary national congress Selangor International Islamic University College in Bangi today.
Anwar took pain to stress that his stand on the one-time communist boss was based on “humanitarian reason” and not because he backed the CPM as “I, in my younger days, had fought strongly against communism”.
Many quarters, including the Veteran Soldiers of Malaysia Association, have strongly objected to allowing Chin Peng to come home.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said any call to allow Chin Peng home “will not be entertained” and the matter should be “closed”.
Chin Peng, 85, has been living in exile in Bangkok and in recent years sought permission from the government and through the courts to return home without much success.
Born Ong Boon Hua in Perak in 1923, Chin Peng won the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and two medals for helping the British fight the Japanese in Malaya during World War II.
He later led the communist party, backed by China, in a guerrilla campaign against the British colonial and Malaysian governments which ran between 1948 and 1960.
Historians have estimated about 2,000 colonial troops and Malaysian forces perished, along with up to 7,000 communist fighters.
The CPM signed a peace agreement with the Malaysian government in 1989 that allowed several high-ranking communist leaders to return.
Expect Utusan to ‘twist my words’
Anwar also said he expected Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia to “twist” his words with his statement on Chin Peng today.
“I know Utusan would twist my words on this. I somehow know that their headlines would be ‘Anwar supports Chin Peng,’ or ‘PKR is a new voice for the communists’,” said Anwar to a loud cheer from the 1,000-strong party delegates.
Anwar argued even Muslim countries such as Indonesia has rehabilitated its communist leaders although they too had taken many lives during their political struggle in the republic.
“Many Islamic bodies led by cleric and one-time president Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) allowed these activists to return home and even let them move freely,” said Anwar.
On a separate matter, the Pakatan leader said he disagreed with PAS’ call for the National Fatwa Council to ban prominent women’s organisation Sisters In Islam (SIS) for its ‘liberal’ views.
“I don’t agree with the issue of simply banning any movements for no good reason as we support the principle of freedom,” said Anwar briefly.
Teen model Manohara and Lee Kuan Yew
Anwar also touched on another issue involving Indonesia - the drama surrounding teen model Manohara Odelia Pinot, who escaped from her allegedly abusive husband, Kelantan prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra.
He urged for the police investigation into the alleged abuse to be conducted fairly and justly.
The PKR leader said “core issues” such as the ill-treatment of Indonesian maids and labourers have remained a persisting problem which could affect ties between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. He said that Manohara case and the Ambalat dispute have added further stress to the ties.
“I frequently visit Indonesia and there is a palpable feeling of discomfort (over these issues).”
He said the Malaysian government should not sweep such problems under the carpet.
Anwar also commented on the eight-day visit by former Singapore premier, now minister mentor, Lee Kuan Yew.
He hoped that Lee in meeting with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and PAS leader Abdul Hadi Awang, would now have a better understanding of the Pakatan coalition.
VIDEO | 7 mins
The PKR de facto leader said Chin Peng should be allowed to “end his days” here as Malaysia has already “made peace” with the communist government of China where even Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had made an official visit to Beijing last week.“(It seems) like we have forgiven them all, so how could we not forgive just one man for what he had done?
“Chin Peng should be allowed to return home to end his days. It does not however mean we agree with all the mistakes he had committed,” said Anwar at the one-day PKR extraordinary national congress Selangor International Islamic University College in Bangi today.
Anwar took pain to stress that his stand on the one-time communist boss was based on “humanitarian reason” and not because he backed the CPM as “I, in my younger days, had fought strongly against communism”.
Many quarters, including the Veteran Soldiers of Malaysia Association, have strongly objected to allowing Chin Peng to come home.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said any call to allow Chin Peng home “will not be entertained” and the matter should be “closed”.
Chin Peng, 85, has been living in exile in Bangkok and in recent years sought permission from the government and through the courts to return home without much success.Born Ong Boon Hua in Perak in 1923, Chin Peng won the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and two medals for helping the British fight the Japanese in Malaya during World War II.
He later led the communist party, backed by China, in a guerrilla campaign against the British colonial and Malaysian governments which ran between 1948 and 1960.
Historians have estimated about 2,000 colonial troops and Malaysian forces perished, along with up to 7,000 communist fighters.
The CPM signed a peace agreement with the Malaysian government in 1989 that allowed several high-ranking communist leaders to return.
Expect Utusan to ‘twist my words’
Anwar also said he expected Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia to “twist” his words with his statement on Chin Peng today.
“I know Utusan would twist my words on this. I somehow know that their headlines would be ‘Anwar supports Chin Peng,’ or ‘PKR is a new voice for the communists’,” said Anwar to a loud cheer from the 1,000-strong party delegates.
Anwar argued even Muslim countries such as Indonesia has rehabilitated its communist leaders although they too had taken many lives during their political struggle in the republic.“Many Islamic bodies led by cleric and one-time president Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) allowed these activists to return home and even let them move freely,” said Anwar.
On a separate matter, the Pakatan leader said he disagreed with PAS’ call for the National Fatwa Council to ban prominent women’s organisation Sisters In Islam (SIS) for its ‘liberal’ views.
“I don’t agree with the issue of simply banning any movements for no good reason as we support the principle of freedom,” said Anwar briefly.
Teen model Manohara and Lee Kuan Yew
Anwar also touched on another issue involving Indonesia - the drama surrounding teen model Manohara Odelia Pinot, who escaped from her allegedly abusive husband, Kelantan prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra.
He urged for the police investigation into the alleged abuse to be conducted fairly and justly.The PKR leader said “core issues” such as the ill-treatment of Indonesian maids and labourers have remained a persisting problem which could affect ties between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. He said that Manohara case and the Ambalat dispute have added further stress to the ties.
“I frequently visit Indonesia and there is a palpable feeling of discomfort (over these issues).”
He said the Malaysian government should not sweep such problems under the carpet.
Anwar also commented on the eight-day visit by former Singapore premier, now minister mentor, Lee Kuan Yew.
He hoped that Lee in meeting with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and PAS leader Abdul Hadi Awang, would now have a better understanding of the Pakatan coalition.
VIDEO | 7 mins
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