YOURSAY ‘What is history? It's written by those in power. But truth is recorded by God. May Chin Peng rest in peace.'

your say Abasir: As fate would have it, Chin Peng @ Ong Boon Hua has finally received what he justly deserved - to be remembered on Malaysia Day as one of a handful of men who fought to free the country from colonial rule. Umno proposes, but God disposes.

Milosevic: Even if one disagrees with his goals and methods, it is hard to deny Chin Peng's role as the real anti-colonial and anti-Japanese protagonist in Malaysia. Umno were fundamentally collaborators. Mahathir Mohamad was a Japan sympathiser.

Umno is very unconvincing passing off as anti-colonialists. Their nationalism under the Tunku was really a post-independence effort. To his credit, Tunku tried to make Malaysia into a workable, multiracial society.

Umno later became a crony party, tricking the Malay population that they were protectors when they were corrupt rip-off artists pretending to be nationalists. The party is basically narrow-minded, self-seeking, and a farce.

Chin Peng was the first Malaysian nationalist. I say this even though I am happy he did not succeed in his politics. Malaysia would have been worse off from 1960 to 1990 under the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). With Umno decaying, it's getting harder to dismiss the CPM. Vietnam's communist party will soon take their country ahead of Malaysia.

Dalvik: Today, if we can open our arms, welcoming a visit by a British or Japanese whose previous generation had invaded the land of Malaya, why can't we do the same to Chin Peng? Moreover, we would welcome communist visitors from China or Vietnam. Rest in peace, Chin Peng.

Baiyuensheng: Whatever crimes he did upon the people during the war was no worse than the Japanese invaders and British colonialists had done to Malaya then. The security forces then were all their poodles and did the dirty work.

My4HOPE: What is history? It's written by those in power. But truth is recorded by God. May Chin Peng rest in peace.

Louis:

The most cruel deed is to deny a dying man his final resting place of choice. Those who strongly opposed his request must be smiling gleefully that Chin Peng will at last be resting in Thailand. What satisfaction do those fellows derive from this denial, only God knows! May Chin Peng rest in peace, though not in his place of choice.

M.A.: Only God knows the truth. Vilified by our government and refused entry to his birthplace, he must have suffered for the bitterness that had befallen him. On judgment day will God decide who the real sinners are? May his soul rest in peace.

BernieBaby: Whilst helping clear the jungles for rubber and palm oil plantations in the early fifties, my late dad on a couple of occasions encountered communists patrols as he surveyed the clearing of the lands. They questioned him, offered him and his helpers tea and let them continue with their work. While many of us hated the communists, my dad never hated them for some reason. There was mutual respect I guess.

Black Mamba: Every ex-communist irrespective of race gets to return to their homeland after the peace treaty was signed with Malaysia except for him. The question here isn't of race.

The question here is, "Does the current government ever honour anything that was signed or verbally promised such as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hindraf, promises of 1Malaysia, Nambikei to the Indians, Sabah and Sarawak 18 and 20 points agreement or soon the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)"?

Bee Gees: It's sad how he cannot pass away peacefully in his own homeland. For me, he has his place in history, not the stupid urinating incident in front of the flagpole.

P Dev Anand Pillai: All he asked was to come home to Sitiawan to see the graves of his father, mother and other siblings before he closes his eyes, but that too was not allowed. For a people who believe in religion and proudly claim that theirs is the best in the planet, this is indeed bad karma but who cares, they may turn around to say that they don't believe in it.

Unfortunately, this is what has become of the Malaysia that Ong Boon Hua left as he took up the struggle to free it from the Japanese and the British forces back then. May his soul rest in peace. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Pang Khee Teik: There are many of us who are exiled here. We live in the country, work for its present, fight for its future, but they keep keeping us out of the Malaysia we love. Will we die with the dream of Malaysia buried in our hearts?

Happy Malaysian: He may have fought the Japs and the English, but he massacred many many Malaysians of Chinese descent in the villages. We lived in terror whenever we travelled outside Kuala Lumpur, and roadblocks started from as near as The Mines resort. This man controlled the space outside the cities and terrorised them. My God forgive him and bless his soul.

CQ MUAR: On this day in the annals of Malaysian history, it's best remembered for the following: Chin Peng was a true freedom fighter (Umnoputras may dispute this) - first against the Japanese alongside the Brits, thereafter against the latter during the Emergency, albeit many lives were lost in the process.

It is indeed a wonder why he (Chin Peng) was disallowed and denied the right to return despite the peace treaty? Was it because not many could emulate the staunch life he led - courage, indomitable spirit and undeniably loyalty? If one reckoned he was unpardonable despite the rough and tough life in the harsh tropical forest for 12 long years, try living under such condition for a month (aided with food, guide, etc)?

In a way Chin Peng was a true hero despite the grudges held against him for loved ones killed. For his bravery and patriosm, henceforth Malaysia Day ought to be also remembered for three things: Happy Malaysia Day, Happy Birthday Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Happy Memory Day on your passing, Chin Peng. As for Perkasa's and the other less forgiving Umnoputras - would you propose a change in date for a new Malaysia Day less memorable?

SenyumUnta: What a great day he chose to pass away! Talk about submarines, we remember Altantuya! Talk about lembu, we remember... Talk about keris, we remember... Now talk about Malaysia Day, we remember Chin Peng! Agreements they can dishonour but Chin Peng is assured that even Umno historians cannot change this fact. RIP.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .