My objection to Ronnie Liu's press statement is not on whether the Communist Party of Malaya had or had not contributed to the process of independence in Malaysia. It is rather on the way he used this already controversial issue to belittle the contribution of generally respectable Umno leaders. It is too simplistic to deny or reject their role just because they were 'high level government servants'.

One does not need Umno Youth leaders to challenge him on this remark. We all know that the issue of the role of CPM in our country's fight for independence has long been a taboo and hidden conveniently by official historians. It is time to correct it. For that, anyone, including Liu, should be given a chance to establish it by fact and not by emotion.

However, it is disturbing to see Liu embark on such a subject with such little sensitivity. Judging on his accusation and judgmental remarks on the role of former Umno leaders, and knowing his position in DAP, it would seem that he was trying to score political points vis--vis Umno Youth.

In discussing the subject in this manner, he is actually doing a disservice to those who wish to correct this one-sidedness of our country's history. Sadly in Malaysia, the controversy is already giving many an opportunity to launch one-sided attack against CPM in the national press. Rectifications of historical facts should be done in a calm manner and not in such an emotionally-charged political arena.