A date with the terrorists
exclusive
Not far across the Thai-Malaysian border lies another side of our history indeed, part of the struggle for Merdeka (independence) could be found here.The now outlawed Communist Party of Malaya has often been depicted as a violent movement, its guerilla fighters out to maim and kill in their armed rebellion against, firstly the British colonialists, and later the post-Merdeka government.
But those who lived through the Japanese occupation during World War Two would have fond memories of how these guerillas fought against the invasion.
"You have come to meet a group of terrorists," said Suriani Abdullah, the party's former propaganda chief, in jest.
She is 78, small in stature but appeared to be a very determined woman. Much of her passion for the communists struggle was still evident in her eyes.
Suriani ran away from home when she was 17, and used to travel to several towns in Perak by bicycle to do her propaganda work. She was a skilful writer and orator, fluent in Bahasa Melayu, English and Mandarin.
With her were former CPM chairperson Abdullah CD, 79; ex-army commanders of the party's 10th regiment Rashid Maidin, 85; Abu Samah Kassim, 80; and Rashid's spouse Salamah Abdullah, 72.
They have all aged gracefully. One cannot detect a trace of bitterness in any of them.
Abdullah appeared to be rather reserved. He had been poisoned years ago by infiltrators. While he was not able to speak very much, he was still very much alert. After all, he was the theorist in the group and contributed much to the Marxist political education during the guerilla days.
Abu Samah was the quiet one. He did not speak very much except to offer his memories about the battle front. These were bitter sweet memories, he said, which he was unable to forget. It is unbelievable to imagine this sweet and gentle bapak (father) as a harden commander in guerilla warfare.
Kept in the dark
The group of six former communist leaders were flustered by recent media reports in Malaysia that portrayed them as supporters of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government. They lamented the serious repercussion of such reports on the 'left and progressive movement' in the region.
These reports attempted to show that they have forsaken their struggles and are now Mahathir supporters.
They complained they had been kept in the dark about their Malaysian citizenship for about 12 years despite being promised that when they signed the 1989 peace treaty with Malaysian and Thailand a tripartite agreement which ended with the party disbanding their armed units, known as the Malayan People's Army.
But they are now no longer interested in going home, they said. Instead, they are seeking Thai citizenship. Which is why they were unhappy with the media reports stating that they backed the Malaysian government.
"None of this is true. We plan to stay here. What comes out in those reports may incur the suspicion of the Thai government and that is why we have to correct the misleading reports," said Suriani.
Rashid, the key person in organising the get-together, was eager to tell his side of the story. He wears a hearing aid and looked very much younger than his 85 years.
"But let me say my doa (prayer) first. This is very important and I must do it well," he said.
Distressed by report
Rashid then decried a Bernama report on Feb 4 portraying him as a supporter of Mahathir.
"I have also criticised him. The report is totally unbalanced," he lamented.
exclusive
Not far across the Thai-Malaysian border lies another side of our history indeed, part of the struggle for Merdeka (independence) could be found here.The now outlawed Communist Party of Malaya has often been depicted as a violent movement, its guerilla fighters out to maim and kill in their armed rebellion against, firstly the British colonialists, and later the post-Merdeka government.
But those who lived through the Japanese occupation during World War Two would have fond memories of how these guerillas fought against the invasion.
"You have come to meet a group of terrorists," said Suriani Abdullah, the party's former propaganda chief, in jest.
She is 78, small in stature but appeared to be a very determined woman. Much of her passion for the communists struggle was still evident in her eyes.
Suriani ran away from home when she was 17, and used to travel to several towns in Perak by bicycle to do her propaganda work. She was a skilful writer and orator, fluent in Bahasa Melayu, English and Mandarin.
With her were former CPM chairperson Abdullah CD, 79; ex-army commanders of the party's 10th regiment Rashid Maidin, 85; Abu Samah Kassim, 80; and Rashid's spouse Salamah Abdullah, 72.
They have all aged gracefully. One cannot detect a trace of bitterness in any of them.
Abdullah appeared to be rather reserved. He had been poisoned years ago by infiltrators. While he was not able to speak very much, he was still very much alert. After all, he was the theorist in the group and contributed much to the Marxist political education during the guerilla days.
Abu Samah was the quiet one. He did not speak very much except to offer his memories about the battle front. These were bitter sweet memories, he said, which he was unable to forget. It is unbelievable to imagine this sweet and gentle bapak (father) as a harden commander in guerilla warfare.
Kept in the dark
The group of six former communist leaders were flustered by recent media reports in Malaysia that portrayed them as supporters of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government. They lamented the serious repercussion of such reports on the 'left and progressive movement' in the region.
These reports attempted to show that they have forsaken their struggles and are now Mahathir supporters.
They complained they had been kept in the dark about their Malaysian citizenship for about 12 years despite being promised that when they signed the 1989 peace treaty with Malaysian and Thailand a tripartite agreement which ended with the party disbanding their armed units, known as the Malayan People's Army.
But they are now no longer interested in going home, they said. Instead, they are seeking Thai citizenship. Which is why they were unhappy with the media reports stating that they backed the Malaysian government.
"None of this is true. We plan to stay here. What comes out in those reports may incur the suspicion of the Thai government and that is why we have to correct the misleading reports," said Suriani.
Rashid, the key person in organising the get-together, was eager to tell his side of the story. He wears a hearing aid and looked very much younger than his 85 years.
"But let me say my doa (prayer) first. This is very important and I must do it well," he said.
Distressed by report
Rashid then decried a Bernama report on Feb 4 portraying him as a supporter of Mahathir.
"I have also criticised him. The report is totally unbalanced," he lamented.
Salamah, a gutsy and jovial woman, chipped in. She was determined to state CPM's opposition to the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial. A cruel law, she said.
"We will never agree to it. We have asked for it to be abolished. It used to be an excuse to detain the communists. Now it is turned on the opposition," she said.
This woman used to be the party's messenger girl. Despite disapproval from her parents, Salamah had opted to dedicate her life to the communist cause at a tender age of 17. In the process, she lost a son in one of the bloody battles with government forces.
But she remains steadfast in her beliefs. At 72, she is as energetic as ever. She also used to be the party's nurse, taking care of the wounded, and even learnt how to use jungle herbs to cure the sick.
"Half of the time, we were battling against wild animals, especially elephants, instead of the enemies," she quipped.
Soft-spoken fugitive
When Chin Peng arrived three hours later, his presence seemed to enliven everyone. His gentle, soft spoken nature belied his past as Malaysia's most-wanted 'terrorist'.
He was friendly, almost fatherly. It is hard to picture this man as the mastermind behind most of the party's struggles, the strategist who led a battle against the British and the government, the fugitive who has been living as an exile for the best part of his life.
It is difficult, too, to conceive this seemingly unassuming man as the legendary leader of a guerilla army for almost half a century, separated from his wife and two children.
If he and his comrades had been able to topple the post-Merdeka Alliance government, what would be the Malaysia of their dreams?
"To tell you the truth, we had no experience to govern the country then. We were too young," he said.
It is harder still to wonder what it is that keeps people like Chin Peng to adhere to their beliefs.
Most of them have been approached by politicians to join their respective parties. Rashid, for example, was offered a key post if he joined Umno. Chin Peng had received similar offers from Gerakan. Both turned them down.
They could have led a more materially prosperous lives if they were to abandon their life-long principles. But did they ever regret taking to the jungles?
"If you could only change one life, it is worth fighting your whole life," they said. Not the easiest thing to do, but how true.
This is the second of a seven-part series on the 'Life and times of Chin Peng', exclusively for Malaysiakini subscribers.
Village of ex-communists finds new hope
Chin Peng's memoirs to be released this year
Chin Peng and other ex-communist leaders not coming home
