THE COVENANTER
Declaration of the State of Emergency in in Thailand. In fact, so far as the
June 1948. Although the conflict between Communists were concerned, the
the British and MCP was inevitable, Chin Emergency did not end until Chin Peng
Peng said he did not want it to happen in negotiated a peace accord with Malaysia in
1948 at a time when military help was not 1989. Not only did he, as he states, obtain
available from either China or Russia. Later 'peace with dignity' but he also gained
when the Chinese Communists were fully permission for the old bandits to return
in power they granted the MCP shelter, home with grants of resettlement money
medical care, education in China and from the Malaysian Government. Chin
provided them with funds to operate a radio Peng was not allowed to return home. Now
station. well into his eighties, his one wish is to see
At the time the 1st Bn arrived in Malaya again his home village of Sitiawan where he
from Bombay in November 1945 Chin Pen can pay homage to the graves of his family
was classified as a hero. He had been and visit the familiar sites of his childhood.
awarded the OBE, mentioned in dispatches With sad words he writes: 'It is ironic that I
and given campaign medals, and had been should be without the country for which I
congratulated by Lord Louis Mountbatten was more than willing to die. '
for his leadership in continuing the fight Chin Peng reveals there was a possibility
against the Japanese after the British defeat that the Emergency could have ended in
and surrender in 1942. When the 1st Bn 1955 when he headed a delegation to meet
returned to the Muar area of Malaya in May Malayan politicians and British officials at
1950, Chin Peng was wanted as a number Baling in northern Kedah. The Chinese and
one enemy. Did the 1950 battalion have in Russians had advised Chin Peng that
their ranks any of the 1945 Battalion? military imbalance was so great that he
Historians have waited years for Chin should attempt to seek a political
Peng to pen his autobiography. It will be of settlement. Chin Peng offered the cessation
interest to those Cameronians who served of hostilities if the MCP were allowed to
in the Malayan Emergency to know that stand as candidates in the election before
Media Masters published Chin Peng’s book the granting of independence in 1957. In
called ‘My Side of History’ in September response the MCP was offered an amnesty if
2003. I have read it. It was absorbing to read they surrendered. Chin Peng saw such
about the Emergency from the other side terms as humiliation and said: 'If you
and, in particular, to learn the reasons that demand our surrender, we would prefer to
led to Chin Peng joining the Malayan fight to the last man.’
Communist Party (MCP) before the Second Bill Couglan
World War. In 1945, having been the leader
of the successful guerrilla army against the
Japanese, he had the popularity and British British Army Reorganisations
approval to become a successful man in
In the light of recent events in relation to the
politics or business: his life, and those close
re-organisation of the Scottish Division readers
to him, would have been more comfortable
will feel that somehow we have been here
However, he felt the injustices of British
before. The following extracts from the
colonial rule and capitalism so strongly that
September 1967 Covenanter taken from a
he dedicated his life to bringing both to an
message by the Colonel of the Regiment on the
end.
disbandment of the 1st Bn may be of interest -
Chin Peng was able to use declassified
‘I should like to clarify and fill in some
top-secret British documents to back his
gaps about the Governments decision to
story. He writes: 'I am not asking the reader
disband our Regiment which is causing us
to excuse the past. This book is neither a
all so much distress.
boast nor an apology. It is an invitation to
The various Councils of Colonels were
understand how beliefs are formed and how
called to London in May and were told that
conflicts can start and abate. '
cuts were imminent.
Although the granting of Malayan
We were given a certain time to consult
Independence in 1957 indicates that the
our Regular Battalions and other leading
MCP was near enough to defeat for the
members of our Regiments and were asked
records to state that the Emergency was
to inform the Army Board if in the
over in 1960, this is not wholly true. Chin
hypothetical event of a cut in our Brigade
Peng points out that the MCP was still able
we would wish:
to attack Malaya frequently from their bases
55
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