Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin said today that the government's refusal to let former leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) Chin Peng return home was because the latter has not apologised.

He said under the 1989 Haadyai Peace Accord, Chin Peng should adhere to three conditions - to lay down arms, to be detained for six months and to issue an apology.

"He didn't apologise. Even in his recent book, he has also refused to apologise," Zainal told the Dewan Rakyat when winding up the debate on his ministry this afternoon.

He added that the decision to disallow the Sitiawan-born Chin Peng to return was the prerogative of Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and everyone should respect the minister's decision.

Chin Peng, 79, is currently living in exile in neighbouring Thailand. He had requested to return to Malaysia in order to launch his new book ' Alias Chin Peng: My Side of History ' and to visit his parents' graves.

The permission however could not be granted because Chin Peng was still linked to a banned organisation with a "history of perpetrating terrorism in this country", the government said.

'Rape and drink' in surau

Earlier during the debate, questions concerning the return of Chin Peng were raised by both the ruling and opposition parliamentarians.

The first to take part in the debate, Ruhanie Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) urged the Home Ministry to take note of several statements issued by the opposition parties in urging the government to grant the permission.

He read out several statements by DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the yet-to-be-registered Parti Sosialis Malaysia, which were published by malaysiakini.

"I am wondering why these opposition parties are suddenly so keen for Chin Peng to return whereas their ally PAS is quiet on the issue," he said.

Ruhanie said the former CPM leader should be "held responsible for hundreds of deaths of army personnel, destruction of mosques and buildings, and for hanging people on trees".

"They also encroached into one surau at my place, and used it to rape girls and to indulge in drinking," he claimed.

"The ministry should take note of this and study what impact such statements from the opposition parties has on the public," the vocal backbencher urged.

'Government inconsistent

'

Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) however said the government is "inconsistent" in its action against Chin Peng.

"If the government feels that Chin Peng is still posing a threat to the country, then why permit Chin Peng's books to be sold here? This is blatant inconsistency," he said.

Kerk Kim Hock (DAP-Kota Melaka) however questioned the double standards in the treatment against ex-CPM members and leaders.

He claimed they are several leaders - whom he did not name - with the BN's Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) who were also ex-CPM members.

"These people could become elected representatives and hold positions in the government but Chin Peng is not allowed just a short visit home" he said.

The DAP leader stressed that "this is not a racial issue but the government must explain with facts how an old man could still pose a threat to national security.