The ruckus over a monument for slain Second World War heroes in Nilai, Negri Sembilan was a racially-charged and calculated diversion by the ruling party from problems it is currently facing, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

He said the Umno-led government was bogged by a sluggish national economy and party infighting and had made allegations that the monument was glorifying the communist to stir up racial sentiments.

Lim said this after visiting the monument at the Nilai Memorial Park today and told reporters that not a single mention of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) or communism was found among the inscriptions on the monument.

"He (Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin) should come personally to see the site before making wild allegations," said Lim, who was also accompanied by Lobak assemblyperson Loke Siew Fook.

Last Saturday, Zainuddin alleged that memorials for the communist were being erected in Sarawak and Nilai.

The committee behind the memorial denied this and added that the memorial - inscribed in five languages: Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, Tamil and Japanese - commemorated the deeds of slain war heroes from all backgrounds.

MB's 'advice'

Following this, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohammad Hasan yesterday urged for the memorial to be demolished.

" Nilai itu saya telah beri amaran supaya mereka robohkan, sebab ... (I have warned them to tear down the Nilai monument, because) it should be a sensitive issue in the country," said Mohammad after chairing the state executive committee meeting.

He later clarified that his 'warning' was intended to be an 'advice', reported Sin Chew Daily today.

The memorial includes a monolith which reads, "In memory of Malayan heroes in the resistance movement against Japanese invasion 1941-1945". Construction of the monolith began in August and is on-going.

Next to the monolith is an existing memorial-cum-altar for 18 CPM and Malaysian People's Anti-Japanese Army commanders who were slaughtered by Japanese troops on Sept 18, 1942.

Don't pervert history

This memorial ( left ) was erected after the bodies of the 18 were removed from their original mass graves, which were neglected, and moved to Nilai in 2003.

It carried the sole inscription, "September 1 heroes memorial".

Lim also said the recent events had shown that the government was attempting to erase history and forget the contributions of others in the armed struggle against Japanese forces during the war.

"Their inclinations after that is a separate matter... all those who fought against the Japanese should be recognised," said Lim.

Lim likened the treatment of these fallen war heroes to the attacks made by Umno against its former president and former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"But then, even if they may not agree with him now, they still recognise his past contributions," added Lim.

Honorable intentions

He said the government had misinterpreted the "honorable intentions" of the Chinese who built the monument and instead accused them of being communist sympathisers.

"This type of blind rage shows that the government has no regard for the historical struggles of the various races in this country, who have fought side-by-side against the Japanese," Lim told AFP .

"This monument is not built to glorify any particular group or political party. We are here to glorify those who have sacrificed their lives and paid a high price for freeedom during the war."

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