A tip-off that two men were bringing in the ashes of Chin Peng turned out to be false as the duo were only having paraphernalia of the former communist party leader.
FULL REPORT
GEORGE TOWN: Police arrested two men last night following a tip off that they were bringing in ashes of deceased communist leader Chin Peng via the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.
A Malaysian from Penang and a Hong Kong national, who took a flight from Bangkok, were arrested on arrival at the Penang airport at 10.30pm.
However, police later found that the two were only having paraphernalia of the former communist leader.
The local man is a local branch chairman of a prominent party and a brother to a former deputy minister.
Security forces were mobilised and the airport was put under heavy guard after the tip-off.
The police only found a portrait of Chin Peng, eight digital video discs, 11 souveniers, a cap displaying a communist emblem and 13 books and documents, all linked to communism and Chin Peng.
The Malaysian, 66 and foreigner, 59, were later taken to the Bayan Baru police station for questioning under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and were released some five hours later at 3.30am.
When contacted, the branch leader, who declined to be identified, said that he and his foreign friend were treated well by the police.
He said police had seized the items and revealed that his foreign friend was released without any conditions.
He however, declined to reveal on whether he had attended Chin Peng’s funeral in Bangkok on Monday.
Possible ban on Chin Peng’s book
Penang police chief Deputy Comm Abdul Rahim Hanafi said last night the police were investigating on whether the duo had attended Chin Peng’s funeral in Bangkok on Monday.
Chin Peng died in a Bangkok hospital on Sept 16 at the age of 90 and was cremated at the Wat That Thong temple in Bangkok on Monday.
His death sparked controversy here with Umno and other Malay-based non-governmental organisation leaders saying that Chin Peng’s body should not be allowed to be buried or cremated in his hometown Sitiawan.
Putrajaya had even prohibited Chin Peng’s ashes from being brought into Malaysia.
The MCA, Pakatan Rakyat and former Inspector-General of Police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor have urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to respect the 1989 Haadyai Peace Accord signed between Malaysia, Thailand and the Communist Party of Malaya.
Several lawyers had said there was no law to bar Chin Peng’s ashes from being brought to his hometown but Najib has refused to give in and upheld the government’s ban on Chin Peng ashes.
When met at the Parliament, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied that the police have arrested the duo, saying that the individuals were merely held up for investigations.
He said he would instruct relevant departments to study whether is there a need to impose a ban on Chin Peng’s book.
FULL REPORT
GEORGE TOWN: Police arrested two men last night following a tip off that they were bringing in ashes of deceased communist leader Chin Peng via the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.A Malaysian from Penang and a Hong Kong national, who took a flight from Bangkok, were arrested on arrival at the Penang airport at 10.30pm.
However, police later found that the two were only having paraphernalia of the former communist leader.
The local man is a local branch chairman of a prominent party and a brother to a former deputy minister.
Security forces were mobilised and the airport was put under heavy guard after the tip-off.
The police only found a portrait of Chin Peng, eight digital video discs, 11 souveniers, a cap displaying a communist emblem and 13 books and documents, all linked to communism and Chin Peng.
The Malaysian, 66 and foreigner, 59, were later taken to the Bayan Baru police station for questioning under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and were released some five hours later at 3.30am.
When contacted, the branch leader, who declined to be identified, said that he and his foreign friend were treated well by the police.
He said police had seized the items and revealed that his foreign friend was released without any conditions.
He however, declined to reveal on whether he had attended Chin Peng’s funeral in Bangkok on Monday.
Possible ban on Chin Peng’s book
Penang police chief Deputy Comm Abdul Rahim Hanafi said last night the police were investigating on whether the duo had attended Chin Peng’s funeral in Bangkok on Monday.Chin Peng died in a Bangkok hospital on Sept 16 at the age of 90 and was cremated at the Wat That Thong temple in Bangkok on Monday.
His death sparked controversy here with Umno and other Malay-based non-governmental organisation leaders saying that Chin Peng’s body should not be allowed to be buried or cremated in his hometown Sitiawan.
Putrajaya had even prohibited Chin Peng’s ashes from being brought into Malaysia.
The MCA, Pakatan Rakyat and former Inspector-General of Police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor have urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to respect the 1989 Haadyai Peace Accord signed between Malaysia, Thailand and the Communist Party of Malaya.
Several lawyers had said there was no law to bar Chin Peng’s ashes from being brought to his hometown but Najib has refused to give in and upheld the government’s ban on Chin Peng ashes.
When met at the Parliament, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied that the police have arrested the duo, saying that the individuals were merely held up for investigations.
He said he would instruct relevant departments to study whether is there a need to impose a ban on Chin Peng’s book.
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