http://dapmalaysia.org  

Abdullah’s reason to bar Chin Peng’s return to Malaysia most astounding and he should present a White Paper in Parliament  as he implied that the Haadyai Peace Accords  of 1989 had failed and that Chin Peng and CPM  have reneged on their undertakings and are continuing their armed struggle by promoting violence and terrorism Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Penang, Monday): I am astounded by the reason given by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that the government will not allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general to visit or settle in Malaysia for the moment as he is still believed to have connections with an organization promoting violence and terrorism here.  This is because Abdullah’s reason implied that the 1989 Haadyai Peace Accords between the Malaysian Government and the CPM for the latter to end the armed struggle by laying down their arms had failed, and that Chin Peng and CPM have reneged on their undertakings and are continuing their armed struggle by promoting violence and terrorism.  This would have come as total news to everyone, for there had been no inkling whatsoever for the past 14 years that the Haadyai Peace Accords for the CPM to end their armed struggle had floundered in any instance.  The very fact that the Police Special Branch had cleared Chin Peng’s bestseller biography, “My Side of History”, could only mean that there had been no hitches to the full implementation of the Haadyai Peace Accords, and that Chin Peng could not have “connections with an organization promoting violence and terrorism here”.  In view of the serious implications of Abdullah’s statement, he should present a White Paper in Parliament to give a full report of the 14-year history and progress of the Haadyai Peace Accords, furnishing information about any breaches by Chin Peng and CPM.  If Abdullah had been misquoted, it is only right and proper that there should be a full clarification of the statement he made yesterday. (29/9/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman