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We call on the Home Ministry to furnish evidence on why the
81-year-old Chin Peng cannot be allowed to return home
Speech
- during the debate on the budgetary
allocation for the Home Ministry
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw
(Dewan Rakyat, Monday):
There are members such as the Honourable Ruhaini from Parit Sulong, Johore,
who show their anger over the request by Chin Peng to come home. (It is
understandable that those who have suffered from the Malayan Communist Party
(MCP) harbour the resentment against Chin Peng).
Let us look at the issue calmly. If the Home Minister has the evidence that
Chin Peng, whose hometown is in Sitiawan, is a threat to the national
security, then he should show it to the nation. He says that the man is
connected with terrorist organizations in Malaysia. Let us know if it is Al
Qaeda, Jemaah Islamyiah or other organisations.
Some members of the House say that Chin Peng's hands are smeared with blood
of many victims. How many persons whose hands have been tinged with blood of
innocent people have been allowed into this country?
(Chin Peng is from Sitiawan. He was the General-Secretary of the Malayan
Commuist Party that fought against the British from 1948 to 1960. The MCP
continued with the armed struggle until December, 1989. Many communists
including Chin Peng remain in southern Thailand after laying down their
arms.)
There were atrocities committed by MCP before 1989. Many innnocent people
were killed. Those who suffer may not forgive Chin Peng and his party.
We do not believe in violence such as armed struggle. Neither do we
subscribe to communism that is a utopia. It cannot succeed on human earth.
On the other hand, we have to analyse the Chin Peng's request to return home
coolly. He has contributed to the nation during the Japanese occupation and
in the departure of the British in 1957. Hitherto, some Communists such as
Musa Ahmad who was the Chairman of MCP have been allowed to return. The late
Ahmad Zaidi Addruse was in the Sarawak Communist Party. He had his Diploma
of Education at Edinburgh University. He was trained in Indonesia as a
terrorist. In 1973, the Sarawak Government had a deal with the Communists in
the Seri Aman project. They have returned to normal life. Ahmad Zaidi stood
for election in 1974 and became a minister in Sarawak. Then, he was Governor
of the state.
Dato' Seri Abdullah said that Chin Peng was involved in terrorist
organisation in the country. Let him produce the evidence and show the
people that it is justifiable to prevent Chin Peng from returning home.
The Russian President Putin's army has killed thousands of people in
Chechnya. Yet, Putin was invited to Malaysia as a guest, including the
Orgainization of Islamic Confenece (OIC) in Putrajaya on 16 October, 2003.
(27/10/2003)
* Dr
Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice Chairman & MP for Kepong
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