Chin Peng's Ashes: Thai government respects Malaysian decision

The Thai government respects the decision of the Malaysian government not to allow the ashes of Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general Chin Peng, who died in Bangkok, to be brought back to this country.

This was conveyed by the president of the Thailand-Malaysia Parliamentary Friend, Narong Duding, to Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang on Monday at a two-hour meeting beginning at 10am at Parliament House, here.

Narong is leading an 11-member delegation on their first visit to the Malaysian parliament. The delegation also included Thai Ambassador to Malaysia, Krit Kraichitti and former Thai Prime Minister Chuay Leek Pai.

Abu Zahar said he had given clarification to the delegation on the decision to ban Chin Peng's ashes as the communist terrorist had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of members of the security forces and the public.

"I also explained that Chin Peng had refused to be a Malaysian national as he rejected the offer of the government to make peace and return here, but he was adament about wanting to topple the government by violence.

"Narong said the Thai government did not recognise Chin Peng's struggles and they understood and respected the decision made by the Malaysian government," he told Bernama.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had earlier announced that the government did not allow the ashes of Chin Peng, or his real name Ong Boon Hwa, 90, who was reported to have died on Sept 16 due to old age, to be brought back to this country.