A former Royal Malaysian Air Force officer, who lost a friend in the 1976 Gubir tragedy when communists shot down a Nuri helicopter in Perak, said Chin Peng should be acknowleged for his role in the Independence movement.

“When you’re fighting, you serve your country and you attack when you are attacked.

“But later, when I read about him, I learnt that he fought the Japanese, he fought the British, so he fought for the country, too,” he said.

Met at the Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general’s wake in Bangkok on Saturday, the RMAF man, who declined to be named, said this is the reason that he chose to pay his respects.

“The Peace Accord was signed. Let it be. I am here because I’m paying my respects to a Malaysian.

“Now the government is not even allowing his ashes in. What harm can ashes do?” he asked.

The government has refused to allow Chin Peng’s remains into Malaysia, claiming that he is not Malaysian and did not apply to return after the 1989 Haytai Peace Accord, which his family and friends refute.

Those opposing the return of his remains also say that this is in consideration of those injured and killed in the insurgency which started in 1948.

MPs, former Thai speaker pay respects

Other Malaysians who visited Wat That Thong temple yesterday were PKR vice-president and Batu MP Tian Chua and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, who is the second DAP MP to pay his respects.

NONE Chua ( right ) said he made the trip to Bangkok especially for the purpose, as “a friend and family” and to “represent a generation of Malaysians wanting to be fair to a historical personality”.

He said whether or not one agrees with Chin Peng’s ideology or method of struggle, one cannot deny that he had a role in shaping the map of South-East Asia.  

“I hope people back home do not manipulate this for political gains... No Malaysian who has humanity, religion and values could put political interest above a simple wish of an old man (for his remains to be returned to his birthplace).

“The discussion on Chin Peng’s death should be returned to sanity and rationality, and shouldn’t be used to deliberately hype up emotion for partisan interest,” he said.

DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago and former senator P Ramakrishnan paid their respects on Friday.

Phokin Polkul, former Thai home minister and former parliamentary speaker also paid respects by sending a wreath in his capacity as chairperson of the Thai Chinese Cultural and Economic Association.