KOTA KINABALU, Sept 24- Newly-registered political party Pertubuhan Perpaduan Rakyat Kebangsaan Sabah (Parti Perpaduan) or Unity Party has once again come up in support of the ruling party, Barisan Nasional (BN).
This time, it is for the BN’s firm stand in not allowing the late Chin Peng to be buried in Malaysia.
In a statement here today, party protem president Jack Giau said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s firm stand on the issue deserved support as Malaysians had lost billions of Ringgit fighting the prolonged guerrilla warfare with Chin Peng and his communist colleagues in the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).
He said although Sabah was never under direct threat of the communists, unlike Sarawak, when the former joined hands with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak in 1963 to form the Federation of Malaysia, it indirectly lost money as Sabah also contributed income tax to the federal coffers.
“The notoriety of the communists under Chin Peng is known throughout our history as the darkest period. We, the new generation, must never take for granted our freedom and the peace that had prevailed,” he added.
At the same time, Giau said his party disagreed with the views of Malay ultra group, Perkasa, on erasing Chin Peng’s name from history books.
He said Parti Perpaduan did not agree with Perkasa chairman Ibrahim Ali’s stand that Chin Peng’s name be erased from the annals of history.
“We cannot simply do such a thing. We want the people to know the true history about Chin Peng, so Parti Perpaduan does not support what Perkasa is seeking,” he said.
Chin Peng died of old age in Thailand on Sept 16, this year, the day Malaysia celebrated its 50th anniversary or golden jubilee.
Malaysia has since refused his family’s request to send the body or ashes to his hometown in Sitiawan, Perak.
– BERNAMA