Pas Ulamak chief Harun (left) believes Chin Peng's
remains should remain in Thailand
as he is not a citizen. (Graphics by
Dayang Norazhar/The Mole)
KUALA LUMPUR: A Pas leader thinks that it is better that the remains of former Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng, to stay in Thailand.
Pas Dewan Ulamak chief Datuk Harun Taib told The Mole: “In Islam, where ever a person dies, that is where they should be buried.”
Harun, who is also Pas Syura council member however stressed that he was not commenting on behalf of the party but as a Muslim.
The Pas Terengganu commissioner said from the political viewpoint he also felt believed that Chin Peng's remains should remain where it is at present as the communist leader was not a Malaysian.
“Politically speaking, he is not a Malaysians and his remains should not be brought back,” added Harun.
Prior to this, Pas central committee member Datuk Dzulkefly Ahmad in a news report said Chin Peng’s ashes should be allowed back into the country in the name of justice.
“I recall they (CPM) agreed to lay down their weapons and, as far as I am concerned, that is a ceasefire,” Dzulkefly was quoted as saying.
Pas Kedah leader Fadzil Baharom was also reported to have attended Chin Peng’s wake on September 22 in Bangkok where the communist leader had died.
Fadzil said his presence at the wake was not representing Pakatan Rakyat rather it was his own personal reason to which he believed that his presence at Chin Peng’s wake would not have any significance now but would be a historical moment in five to 10 years' time over his bravery to attend the wake.
Harun when asked what he thought about Dzulkefly's and Fadzil’s views said he was unable to comment, adding: “I cannot comment on other issues, that you would have to ask the Pas president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang).”
Prior to this, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party accepted the government's stand not to allow Chin Peng to be cremated in the country.
Hadi was reported as saying that the ban had already been issued by the government and any opinion from the Islamic party would not change the decision that has already been made.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak banned Chin Peng’s body from returning to which he compared the latter’ s death to the way the Americans treated Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s body.
"If you see it that in the context of how the Americans treated Osama bin Laden, you know. You could see that Chin Peng died a natural death. Osama bin Laden was singled out, and he was killed and his body was just thrown into the sea. That's what the Americans did in the case of Osama bin Laden."
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shared a different sentiment over the issue of Chin Peng’s final resting saying that it was time to let bygones be bygones as the CPM leader had signed the Hat Yai 1989 Peace Accord.
However DAP leaders argued that Chin Peng was a freedom fighter who contributed in achieving independence in an armed struggle against the Japanese and British forces.
On September 23, Chin Peng was cremated at the Wat That Thong in Bangkok around 6 pm attended by over a hundred ex-comrades of CPM, Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairman M. Sarasvathy, former Thai prime minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Thai military commanders Gen Datuk Kitti Ratanachaya and General Pisarn Wattanawongkiri alongside family members of the deceased.
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