theSun | FRIDAY MAY 29 2009 13

speak up!

letter

He should apologise
man who was personally involved. letters@thesundaily.com
It is one thing for individuals to
apologise on behalf of institutions
– like (Australian prime minister) Traffic chaos
Kevin Rudd apologising for the
treatment of Aborigines, or the
pope apologising for sexual abuse
puts off visitors
AN immensely rare thing hap- the struggle against the The other likely committed by priests – but it is I AM a regular visitor to your wonderful
pened this week: I read a statement Japanese. It is undeni- Abiding alternative is that we another for a living individual to country which has many tourist attractions
of government policy, and I was so able: their key role in would have become show some meaningful remorse. and friendly people.
jubilantly in agreement that I rose the Malayan People’s Times an isolationist People’s Here is a man who led an or- I visit Bangsar often and am amazed and
from my seat, much to my cat’s Anti-Japanese Army is by Tunku Democratic Republic ganisation adopting an ideology horrified to see the antics of selfish motorists,
discomfort. well documented, and ‘Abidin Muhriz of Malaya, joining the posing every conceivable threat especially around Bangsar Village. The same is
It was the upholding of the ban it should be recognised. ranks of North Korea to our democratic system fused true for other suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. The
on Chin Peng from returning to It is the MCP’s actions and South Yemen. together from ancient and modern following sights are common:
Malaysia, and while it is not a nice after World War II that are to be There is a revisionist claim that institutions; to individual property » Four-wheel-drive vehicles illegally parked
thing to deny someone their last condemned, beginning with ac- the demonisation of communism rights; to free markets; to the very on pavements.
wishes, in this case to pay respects counts of reprisals and executions emerges from an ultra-Malay formation of our federation; and if » Vehicles parked on pedestrian crossings.
at his father’s grave and to spend after the end of the war. stance which seeks to associate you got in the way, ultimately the » Motorists ignoring the law on pedestrian
his last days here, it is under these And after Merdeka, when communism with ethnic Chinese freedom to live. crossings which are supposed to be safe for
circumstances entirely the right they could have contributed to disloyalty. Both insult those Chi- And yes, here is a man whose pedestrians. I have almost been run over by
thing. the newly-fledged nation, instead nese Malayans who fought the leadership allowed a bomb to arrogant drivers while using the crossing.
My generation is often, with of laying down arms, what did terror – in fact, most of those who be laid upon a railway track in » Vehicles double parked.
good reason, accused of not they do? They continued their were awarded the Seri Pahlawan a murder attempt on my great- » Vehicles parked outside parking bays, along
understanding the implications campaign of violence, shifting re- Gagah Perkasa (our highest mili- grandfather. yellow lines, on the kerb, behind legally parked
of history. It is not sources from devel- tary medal which outranks Tuns Having said all that, some of vehicles, in front of private driveways, etc.
just an ignorance opment to defence: and the highest royal awards) the government’s policies regard- » Vehicles running through red lights.
of the facts, but It is the MCP’s why? Let’s consider for gallantry against the com- ing the communist period are » Vehicles illegally parked at road junctions
also an ignorance the proposition munists were not Malay – but it lamentable. as a result narrowing a road entrance to just
of the strong emo-
actions after that it was justified also ignores the killings between The continued banning of a small lane making it hazardous for vehicles
tions that continue World War II that are because they saw CCP and Kuomintang supporters movies like The Last Communist to enter or leave the street.
to be felt. While the new nation as in Malaya. and books challenging the govern- Local councils in Australia punish traffic
the government to be condemned. a neo-imperialist Back to Chin Peng. It has been ment’s narrative of the Emergency offenders and use the penalties to improve
reminds us about project. disputed that he may or may not serves no purpose. Instead it casts public facilities.
May 13 on a regular Had the MCP have been personally involved in unnecessary aspersions. You must show visitors to your country that
basis, the much wider impact of succeeded, it is likely that we killings and giving specific orders, By invoking censorship we go the public are law-abiding. This awareness is
the Malayan Communist Party’s would have become a puppet and that he should be excused for down the same path of authori- compounded when you are moving towards
campaign of terror is relegated. of China, given the patronage it this. This is malarkey: there was a tarianism that communism would a developed country status by 2020.
Yet the proposal to allow Chin received from the Chinese Com- clear chain of command, and if he have led to: it is time to lift the bans, I believe the average Malaysian abhors the
Peng’s return has triggered a flood munist Party. This was no longer a really disapproved of such tactics free the teaching of history and let chaotic situation but treats it as a daily hazard.
of angry responses from letters fight against British imperialism: it we would have heard about it. Malaysians see for themselves the The authorities must strictly enforce traffic
from descendants of victims and was an attempt to establish a new There are also those who argue evidence of communist terror and rules and make offenders realise that obeying
servicemen. One moving letter imperialism. (Sukarno’s labelling that just because we seem to have this man’s involvement. the law and civic awareness is good for the
asks: “Chin Peng, where is my of Malaysia as a “neo-colonialist” forgotten about other atrocities, we public as well as the nation.
father’s grave?” My generation has plot was much the same: an at- should forget about communist
no right to ignore their pain. tempt to enlarge an authoritarian terrorism too: we have excellent Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz is direc- Shirley Peterson
First let’s deal with this idea polity invoking the language of relations with Japan, for instance. tor of the Malaysia Think Tank Umina
that the communists helped us in anti-imperialism.) The difference is that here is a (waubebas.org) Australia