James Wong Wing On wrote: "If we are Malaysian and Asian enough in our historical perspective, the armed struggle of the CPM before Aug 31, 1957 can only be termed as a national liberation struggle, on par with the independence wars of the United States of America and Indonesia. It was part of the struggle for Merdeka." ([#1]Hammer and sickle not Suqiu tools[/#], Dec 16-17)

That is as much bull as exists between the tips of two buffalo horns.

Whitehall was on record in the post-WWII years as declaring the end of the Empire concept and starting the Commonwealth, a grouping of self-governing and eventually politically independent nations.

The post-war high commissioners like Henry Gurney and Gerald Templer emphasised that one of their tasks was the preparation of the then-Malaya for self-rule leading to independence. In the early 1950s, literacy levels were quite abysmal and we couldn't even implement the jury system for want of enough educated people to serve in the Malay States.

The armed struggle of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) lost its validity and legitimacy when the British showed their sincerity by educating Malayans about democratic elections. Local council elections were introduced in the early 1950s and even new villagers were enfranchised.

This lack of education was alleviated by the use of novel forms of voting, including placing the photograph of the candidate on a ballet box. A voter is given tokens which are then slotted into the box bearing the photograph of the candidate of his choice.

In fact, I would venture to say that the continued armed struggle of the MCP hindered the march to independence.

The columnist also wrote: "Only British imperialists would consider and term the struggle of CPM between 1930 and August, 1957 as 'terroristic' or 'anti-government'. The British Imperialists were right from their standpoint but for Malayans, Malaysians or other Asians to think likewise was and still is wrong."

No, I, a loyal Malaysian, born, bred and resident in Malaysia throughout the relevant period and being fairly well-versed in Malayan history, am ready and willing to term the armed struggle of the MCP nothing more than banditry and anti-Malayan rather than anti-British colonialism. Slashing rubber trees and intimidating common citizens going about earning a living is nothing more than thuggery, devoid of any nobility.

The writer said: "It was only after Aug 31, 1957, when our nation obtained independence, was the nature of CPM's struggle open to critical debate."

Well, the fraudulent nature of the MCP struggle was brought out in the open when they continued after 1957. So many deadlines and extended deadline for laying down of arms (emptily promised before Aug 31, 1957) so generously given by Tunku were not accepted.

This unnecessarily stretched the Emergency to 1960 and wasted so much human and other resources that could have been put to better use in the early development of Malaya.