The recent reaction of the police to a Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) veterans’ dinner in Penang shows they are still mired in the ‘Cold War’ mentality, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) said today.

In condemning Penang deputy police chief A Thaiveegan’s statement that the cops are investigating the organisers of the dinner to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Haadyai peace treaty, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan said that the event was not new and happened with the knowledge of the police.

“What he failed to tell the public is that the police knew about the programme and even monitored it. Plus, it has been held every year,” Arutchelvan ( right ) said in a statement today.

“The police making such a statement during the Umno general assembly displays that they are still stuck in the Cold War mentality,” he said.

Arutchelvan said that the Cold War with the communists had ended over two decades ago.

“Their statement is stupid and nonsensical, meant to purposely create tension. It’s as though they want to revive an old script which had expired,” he said.

He went on to point out that Umno had invited communist observers to its recent general assembly, including representative of the North Korean Worker’s Party.

“If the police want to still investigate, maybe they want to look at the Perak royalty as the Perak sultan had recognised CPM leaders such as Abdullah CD ( left in photo ) and Rashid Maidin at his palace,” Autchelvan said.

“It is about time the country and Umno give a proper interpretation that the fight for freedom is not something that exclusively belongs to Umno,” he added.

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