VIDEO | 1:52 mins

The family of the late Chin Peng has refused to confirm a Thai media report that Chin Peng's ashes will be divided between the family and four peace villages after he is cremated later today.

His nephew Lee Chung, who organised the wake and funeral in Bangkok, said the family has not spoke to any news organisations about the arrangement over Chin Peng's ashes.

“The information did not come from us and we don’t know who the source is,” he said.

Asked specifically on how the family will handle Chin Peng's ashes, Lee refused comment.

He also refused to confirm if Chin Peng’s son and daughter are here at the Wat That Thong temple for the funeral.

“Make your own judgment,” he told media, adding that the children have asked for privacy.

He added that the “most important people” are already here for the funeral which began at 10am with chanting of Buddhist scriptures.

The Bangkok Post earlier quoted unnamed “family sources” as saying that some of the ashes would “probably be kept by his children and grandchildren”.

It added that the rest would be “equally divided and buried” in four peace villages in southern Thailand where ex-CPM fighters reside, namely Betong, Kabang, Tarnto and Sukhirin.

Chin Peng - born Ong Boon Hua - died of cancer on Sept 16 at a Bangkok hospital at the age of 89.

About 100 people are attending his funeral today, mostly ex-CPM members who have travelled from Malaysia.

During the Buddhist chanting, a man probably in his late 40s or early 50s and a woman about the same age were seen seated in an area especially reserved for important guests in the main hall where Chin Peng’s remains lies in a closed casket.

This had fuelled speculation that Chin Peng’s children, who had earlier sent a wreath, were in attendance.

Chin Peng’s nephew Lee Suvit had on the first day of the wake on Friday told Malaysiakini that the children would attend the funeral, but that their identities will not be revealed to the media.

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