His Story Not Your Story

They were Freedom Fighters too

Out of the blue, Malaysia today is abuzz with the resurgence of communism. It starts when Pulau Pinang Gerakan's Head 'begs' the government to allow Chin Peng's return on humanitarian basis. Today the recently promoted Defence Minister claims that some are trying to revive communism. If it is true then we are facing great challenge ahead of us.

Perhaps I am qualified to share my views on communism since mine at best is based on readings on communism which admittedly very limited indeed. Communism is based on Karl Marx idea of a utopia - an ideal place where everyone is equal but to many it is not utopia at all since man are created differently from each other, at least in terms of gender.

Back to the issue of communist revival, to allow Chin Peng to return is indeed an insult to those who have lost their lives trying to uphold and secure the sovereignty and freedom of this nation from falling to the communist. Although some may argue that communism today is very different from communists of the old but basically and ideologically it remains the same where the State controls everything and most importantly religion plays no part in the day to day administration of the State.

Many have fallen to its idealistic charm including our fellow Muslims like Abdullah CD and the late Shamsiah Fakeh. Perhaps, in the beginning communism is just what it proclaims - equality for all but I really have problem reconciling the fact that they have killed their own flesh and blood during the long years of their struggle to take over a legitimate government chosen by the People.

Nonetheless, I believe that the current situation is a non issue but the ruling coalition's ploy of diverting the People's anger and disappointment of what is happening in Perak. Maybe it is a coincidence that the current Defence Minister comes from Perak and he is among the first from the ruling coalition to publicly claims that communism is being revived albeit covertly. Indeed, it is to me a clear political manoeuvre to distract the People of the state of democracy in Malaysia today. To prove that I may be right, remember who is the first to moot such idea of allowing Chin Peng to return? An important leader of the ruling coalition and the rest is history when UMNO stalwarts like Rais Yatim and Zahid Hamidi take on the cue to show that the ruling coalition a.k.a the government is against such move.

The public need to be told the truth and here I mean the real truth not the truth concocted by interested parties of the role of the left or right movements in the struggle for independence of the beloved nation of ours. History needs to be told and not manipulated so that everyone will feel that he or she is appreciated. This is what 1Malaysia is about , the truth and not the selected truth. We should not deny that movements like MPAJA, Peta, API, AWAS and others have their share in cultivating and maintaining the spirit and struggle towards independence. To blot their contribution is a disservice to every Malaysian.

Let the People be the judge of these movements' contribution rather than by dismissing them outright by telling younger generations that ONLY UMNO is responsible towards the independence of the fatherland of ours.

History means his story and not our story, really