Koon Yew Yin, 13th Oct 2024

Today I read the article by Murray Hunter titled “A Visit to the Malaysian Communist Party tunnels in Betong, Thailand”, which is an important part of Malaysia’s history.

In the mountains approximately 18 km northwest of the border tourism town of Betong is where the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) 12th battalion was domiciled after withdrawing from Malaysia during the 1970s. 

The tunnels at Piyamit 1, in Tambon Tano Mae Ro, were built in 1976 by a group of 40-50 cadres over three months, by hand. The tunnels stretch approximately over one kilometre, with originally nine entrances and cavities up to 20 metres wide in some places. The complex could accommodate up to 200 people.

This article reminds me of my meeting with Chin Peng in Bangkok before he passed away. Let me share a brief history of Chin Peng.

In 1824, British control in Malaya (before it was called Malaysia) was formalized by the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, which divided the Malay Archipelago between Britain and the Netherlands. The Dutch evacuated Melaka and renounced all interest in Malaya, while the British recognized Dutch rule over the rest of the East Indies.

Japanese Invasion of Malaysia

When the Japanese invaded Malaya on 8 December 1941, the British left without firing a shot to resist the invasion. The Japanese remained in occupation until their surrender to the Allies in 1945. The first Japanese garrison in Malaya to lay down their arms was in Penang on 2 September 1945 aboard HMS Nelson. The Japanese ruled Malaya for nearly four years. 

As I said earlier, the British left Malaya without firing a shot, but a small group of communists led by Chin Peng, who was from Sitiawan, Perak, fought the Japanese. My college mate and business partner Yap Lim Sen knew Chin Peng and his family. During the Japanese occupation, Chin Peng and his followers hid in the jungle and occasionally fought the Japanese. Fortunately, many villagers supported the communists with food and necessities. 

Unfortunately, when the British returned to rule Malaya, the communists who had fought the Japanese were not recognized by the British. In fact, the British fenced up all the villages to prevent the villagers from aiding the communists.

The Assassination of Sir Henry Gurney

The assassination of Sir Henry Gurney took place on 6 October 1951 at the height of the Malayan Emergency. Gurney, the British High Commissioner in Malaya, was killed by members of the Malayan Communist Party at Mile 56½ of Kuala Kubu Road on his way to Fraser's Hill for a meeting.

After the assassination of Sir Henry Gurney, the British increased the number of personnel in the police force to hunt down the communists. As a result, they ran to Thailand where they were given a piece of land in Betong to cultivate food to survive. As shown on the map below, in the mountains approximately 18 km northwest of the border tourism town of Betong is where the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) 12th battalion was domiciled.

Comrades and Family Bid Final Farewell to Chin Peng

Chin Peng—once dubbed Public Enemy No. 1—was cremated on 16 September 2013 amidst fierce debate in Malaysia over the final resting place of his ashes and his role in history. The former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general's funeral was a low-key affair with about 250 people in attendance at the Wat That Thong temple in downtown Bangkok.

Although no Malaysian officials were present, former Thai Prime Minister Chawalit Yongjaiyuth, along with retired Thai generals Kitti Rattchaya, Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, and Akanit Muansawad, attended, as did Thai Communist Party secretary-general Thong Chamsri. 

The Malaysian Government did not allow Chin Peng’s ashes to return to his hometown Sitiawan, Perak.

When Chin Peng was sick, China sent a doctor and a nurse to take care of him in a Bangkok hospital. My college mate and business partner Yap Lim Sen knew Chin Peng when he was living in Sitiawan, Perak. We visited him in Bangkok before he passed away, as shown in the photo above.