‘What harm can Chin Peng’s ashes do?’
An MCA leader supports the return of Chin Peng’s ashes, contrary to party president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s position.
Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT
Despite his death a week ago, former Communist Party Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng continues to stir controversy – this time in MCA.
MCA Publicity Bureau chairman Heng Seai Kie today said the ashes of Chin Peng should be allowed to be brought home, contrary to party president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s statement on Tuesday that Chin was a “personality who undermined national security for decades”.
Chua had not directly dismissed Chin Peng’s return, but acknowledged the call by former special branch deputy director Yuen Yuet Leng and had said: “I don’t have (any reasons). He (Yuen) may has his information which is not made available to me.”
“Whether Chin Peng is a hero or not is not an issue here. In fact, you do not need to be a hero to be allowed a burial in Malaysia,” Heng said in a press statement.
“The BN government does not need anymore bad publicity of being seen as making decisions based on racial lines,” she added.
Heng justified her statement with the “decent burial” of suspected terrorists Dr Azahari Husin and Nordin Mohamad Top – two individuals wanted by the Indonesian governments for several deadly bombings – in Jasin and Pontian, respectively.
“Born and bred in Malaya, everyone, including Chin Peng has the right to be interred in Malaysia. On humanitarian grounds, we should honour this nonagenarian’s last wishes,” she said.
“On the other hand, there are no laws in this country which forbids anyone who intends to have last rites and his resting place here,” she added.
“After all, what harm can his ashes do to the country?” she asked.
Heng further said the government should honour the clauses agreed upon in the Haadyai Peace Accord “so as to uphold the integrity and credibility of our government”.
“Since other Communist Party of Malaya leaders like Syed Hamid Ali and Shamsiah Faekah were allowed to return to reside in Malaysia, why not the same be applied to Chin Peng?” she questioned.
