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Hat Yai treaty event to celebrate peace, not offend relatives of victims - Liu

An event in Kajang held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hat Yai peace treaty on Sunday, was meant as a celebration of peace, said DAP central committee member Ronnie Liu.

"(It was) not an attempt to rub salt into the wounds of family members who lost their relatives.

"There needs to be a closure to everything, instead of politicising even the ashes of Chin Peng. I urge the people to move on and condemn those who try to create a mountain out of a molehill," he said in a statement late last night

"While it is true that thousands of lives, including the lives of innocent civilians, were sacrificed during the fight against communism, which lasted for some 30 years, the event was to celebrate the peace treaty that was signed," he added.

Liu said such events were an avenue for healing, as well as an opportunity for youths to learn about history.

He was one of the speakers at the Kajang event, having attended in his personal capacity.

There, Liu had related how his grandfather was also involved in the struggle for independence.

The Sungai Pelek assemblyperson clarified in his statement that his grandfather was a member of the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) before going on to fight the British, but was never a communist.

Liu's participation in the event had become fodder for Umno and PAS to attack DAP as supporting communist.

However, he rejected this notion.

"As a member of the DAP, I practise social democracy, not communism. If Umno or PAS do not understand the meaning of these two words, they should be schooled again," he said.

Police are currently investigating the event, and Liu said he has been called for questioning on Monday.

He said he saw no reason for this but will comply.

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