Chin Peng’s ashes can never be brought back, says Zahid

Home Minister says Putrajaya will not allow Chin Peng's ashes to be brought back to Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 30, 2014.Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says Putrajaya will never allow the ashes of Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng, to be brought back to Malaysia, Bernama reported today.

Commenting on a call made by the 21st Century Malaysia Friendship Association, for Putrajaya to respect the Hatyai Peace Accord signed on December 2, 1989, between the CPM and the Thai government, Zahid said the government was sensitive to the feelings of the families killed or maimed by CPM.

"We will not allow his ashes to be brought back as we are sensitive to the feelings of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the soldiers, policemen and others whose family members were killed or maimed by the brutal CPM insurgents," he said.

Chairman of the association, Lee Huck Tee had said Putrajaya should allow Chin Peng's ashes to be brought back to Malaysia in view of the peace treaty.

By not letting Chin Peng to return home while he was alive and even after his death, Lee said, the Malaysian government has failed to honour the peace accord.

One of the terms in the peace accord signed in Hatyai, southern Thailand, was that CPM members of Malayan origin would be allowed to return to live in Malaysia, if they wanted to.

However, CPM secretary-general Chin Peng, whose real name was Ong Boon Hua, was barred from returning to Malaysia. His ashes have also been denied entry into the country.

"Not allowing his ashes to be brought back to his homeland cannot be tolerated by the universal laws of justice," Lee had said.

On another note, Zahid said it was necessary to retain and strengthen the Sedition Act 1948 to preserve unity and harmony among Malaysia's multiracial society, Bernama reported.

Bernama reported him as saying that the government was looking at three elements when strengthening the Act – sedition through the Internet, particularly social media; touching on religious sensitivities and calling for Sabah and Sarawak to leave the federation of Malaysia.

"These (three elements) are among the many elements that we have carefully studied in strengthening the Sedition Act... discussions were held with the legal advisers in the Home Ministry and Attorney-General's Chambers on what needs to be tightened or amended.

"The bill to amend the Sedition Act is expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next year," Bernama quoted him as saying at a news conference after launching the "From Bikers 4 Gaza" programme and Malacca Motorcycle Carnival at Autocity, Ayer Keroh, Malacca.

Also present were Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and state police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye.

The "From Bikers 4 Gaza" event was to raise funds for the Palestinians in Gaza who are
suffering from Israel's oppressive Zionist regime, while the two-day motorcycle carnival from yesterday showcases over 200 motorcycles of various makes, besides
featuring 30 display and product sales booths.

Zahid said sedition through the Internet, especially the social media, should not be allowed to go on just like that, but needed to be curbed to prevent the problem from becoming cancerous and destroying harmony in the country.

"The Sedition Act was introduced in 1948 where there was no Internet at the time. Therefore, this Act now needs to be amended, taking into consideration the existence of this communication facility and other modern channels of communication," he said.

However, he said, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 was specifically for tackling the misuse of the Internet in this country, with the police working together with the relevant authority, the Communications and Multimedia Commission, on this. – Bernama, November 30, 2014.