Two opposition parties have taken up the case to allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng to visit his homeland Malaysia.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) said it is a historical fact that the now defunct CPM had played a key role in fighting against foreign dominating powers in pre-independent Malaya.

"It is a historical fact that the CPM waged war against the Japanese and British colonialists and the CPM played a crucial role in hastening the independence of Malaya in 1957," said pro-tem secretary-general S Arutchelvan.

He said the rejection of Chin Peng's request also showed that the government is acting in contradiction and violation to the peace accord it signed with the CPM in 1989.

"It seems that the CPM has kept its part of the deal and it is now up to the government to keep its part. Chin Peng has not violated the peace accord and there is no valid reason for not allowing him to visit his country of birth," he said.

"This attempt in blocking Chin Peng's visit to his home country is inconsistent, illogical and in bad taste."

The issue of the return of Chin Peng, the CPM's 11th secretary-general, has been brewing since the publication of his long-awaited memoirs Alias Chin Peng: My Side of History which went on sale in Kuala Lumpur at the end of last month.

Chin Peng's memoirs have surged to the Kinokuniya book store's bestsellers' list in the few weeks since the book has been on sale.

A local historical society, the Perak Academy, had earlier planned for a book launch by the former guerilla leader in his hometown in Ipoh. However, the plan was shelved after the academy received an unfavourable response from the Home Ministry.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi confirmed this, saying the government rejected Chin Peng's request because he was still linked to an organisation "which had a history of involvement in violent activities".

"I was informed about his request from a third party. I replied that at the moment, the government's stand is not to allow him to return," he was quoted as saying today in several newspapers.

National reconciliation

Meanwhile, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua also criticised Abdullah's stand saying that the reasons given were inadequate to justify the ban on Chin Peng's return.

"The CPM has delivered its part of the deal and has laid down arms. The government has also allowed other senior CPM leaders to come into the country. Why is Chin Peng alone banned?" he asked.

He said the government should grant the former communist leader's request on humanitarian grounds.

"After all, everything is part of our nation's history. We have to reconcile with our past," he added.

Several other opposition leaders, including Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali and DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang, had recently urged the government to reconsider its position on Chin Peng's status.

'Painful memories'

Chin Peng, a nom de guerre of Ong Boon Hua, 79, led a protracted struggle against the British, Japanese and the newly independent governments of Malaysia and Singapore which stretched for over half a century.

The party's armed campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths on both sides, ended only in 1989 with the signing of a peace agreement with the governments of Malaysia and Thailand.

During the communist insurgency, the government offered an award of up to $250,000 (Straits dollars) for Chin Peng - the country's most wanted man for 40 years - dead or alive.

Although the former guerilla fighter now lives in Bangkok, he has two children still residing in Malaysia.

Under the peace agreement, Chin Peng is allowed to visit Malaysia only with prior approval from the Home Ministry. To date, he has not be able to obtain permission to return home.

According to a Bernama report, the Ex-Servicemen's Association of Malaysia has objected to Chin Peng's return as it will "rekindle painful memories" for family members of soldiers killed during the Emergency.

Association president Senator Mohamad Abdul Ghani said the "terrorism and treachery" committed by Chin Peng and his colleagues were still fresh in the army's memory.