And had the CPM come to power, with very little doubt, there would be thousands of Malayans detained without trial. Vaclav Havel did not change his mind, but Kassim Ahmad did and earlier found flaws in Socialism as he now finds flaws in the Islamic Hadiths. Despite all the innumerable flaws in Malaysia today, I see very few Malaysians, understandably unhappy with a corrupt and unresponsive government (as I have commented on frequently), calling for Malaysia to become a Communist nation. The burning issue for Malaysia today is to improve human rights and accountability, so that illegal detention does not take
place. The same goes for Singapore. Maoist
totalitarianism was hardly the answer, 60 years ago for Malaya and Singapore, and is undoubtedly less so, today. Nations, like Taiwan, have proven (though imperfect) one need not have to choose solely between totalitarianism of the Left or of the Right. And yes, I had an uncle “detained” in a Japanese POW camp in what is now Indonesia, he did survive and did not change his mind, that neither the Japanese “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” (хдзцЭ▒ф║ЮхЕ▒цжохЬП Dai-t┼Н-a Ky┼Нeiken), the Indonesian independence movements,
nor Communism, would have saved him. His soul saved him, not ideology.
AFAIK Nick has not posted on NM something I only discovered via Twitter – but I see no reason why that should prevent me from now drawing NM readers’ attention to it. The content should be self-explanatory.
Ms Teo, as an opposition politician requesting an inquiry on well established historical facts, verified by information from multiple sources, I question not just your motives, but your integrity.
This revisionism that you pursue must necessarily must be aired in an Australian website, far from the eye of the Singaporean public, because you know the ridicule you must surely face from the general public in mainstream Singapore.
Such blatant outright lying will not win you any votes in the struggle for the hearts and minds of Singaporean citizens. The voting population of Singapore looks for the politician who genuinely cares for our interests instead of those pursuing their own personal agenda of vengeance. It is for this reason that the Worker’s Party in Singapore has gone for strength to strength in the recent general elections while your SDP party continues to languish in ignominy.
Mr Gafoor was born in Oct 1965 too young to have personal observations except through the spectacles of Lee Kuan Yew. A biased piece of writing at best.
A nice feint, Teo, but it doesn’t cut it. You know Lee is not well, and is not in the best condition to provide detailed ‘testimony’ as he might have, even ten years ago. You also know Dr Poh, James Fu and Chan are hardly a balanced cross-section. Why not invite Kishore who will just recommend doing away with the Western World altogether (and is far too young anyway to know about the CPM). Australia, neutral ? Oh, you mean like at ANU, where the mere utterance of the acronym LKY can get one banned from campus for life. It depends WHERE in Australia.
I would suggest Christchurch, NZ or Ottawa, Canada, instead. Is it that British and other “Orang Putih” who fought the CPM are somehow more biased than your choices ? Any commission must include not only those who (unwisely) sought to make Malaya a puppet regime of Maoist China, but also those who fought to make it not so.
Why not have an independent commission of inquiry to hear out the people who are involved in that era. People like Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Poh, James Fu, Chan Sun Wing etc are still alive. Both sides can present evidence. Hold this inquiry on neutral ground, maybe Australia.
……..and to head off the anticipated rebuttal. I KNOW that several former British Intelligence and other officers met Chin Peng, in Thailand, either out of some misplaced desire for reconciliation (in my view) or curiousity. I do not agree with their actions at all, but that is their decision to live with. However, I make no claim that an unwise publicity move constitutes lack of profound knowledge of the Emergency, many of these officers having been on the front lines.
As with Comber and others, whatever their feelings after the war, and for some, views have changed, I still acknowledge their objectivity and first-hand experience of the Emergency, which I witnessed myself as a child in Malaya, but claim no personal military expertise.
Lai Teck hardly steered the CPM towards a “more moderate course” after the war. That is absurd. Lai Teck did not view the Emergency as just a war, but as a firm advance of Maoist China’s interests in Malaya. The goal was to install a Maoist Government in Malaya. That Lai Teck sold out everyone he came in contact with, does not in any way absolve him, of the bloodletting both within the CPM, where perceived competitors were killed, nor his involvement in the killing of innocent Malayans. How many of Mao’s own inner circle cadres were also charged with “treason” and executed by Mao and devotees like Lin Biao (who had some of Lai Teck’s “qualities”) ?
That Ching Peng himself had a dim view of Lai Teck, and so many naive young Singaporeans and Malaysians are ignorant of that period, either suggests that Chin Peng’s own views were insufficiently
gracious towards Lai Teck (laughable), or Chin Peng’s suspicions about Lai Teck were on target. Given that both were highly Machiavellian and completely egotistical
(witness Chin Peng’s pathetic attempts
at self-rehabilitation with a facile self-congratulatory book and an admiring coterie of Leftist Press to coddle him). I suggest you ask Leon Comber at Monash about Lai Teck. Comber will provide a VERY objective analysis of both Lai Teck and Chin Peng, one not provided by Poh Soo Kai.
The biggest damage Lai Teck did was to weaken his own party by betraying party members to the Japanese and to the British, as well as steering it towards a moderate course in the immediate after-war period. He was working for the Japanese and for the British (and before that for the French). His work raises questions as to whether the authorities had additional trojan horses within the party and related organisations, and to what extent this helped or hindered intelligence operations and ‘managing’ the party and the movement. //
In order to advance the study and our understanding of colonial rule, decolonisation, and post-independence in Malaya / Malaysia and Singapore, notably with regard to the struggle for the hearts and minds of the population, it would be great if the archives in Singapore were made accessible to historians and others with an interest in these issues.
But surely whatever a pardon would “suggest” is irrelevant; at least if I am correct in assuming that the grounds for a pardon are to see miscarriages of justice remediated.
Just what inferences members of society might draw from a pardon, assuming it was granted, should really not be an issue at all.
In summary: Who writes is more important than what is written. This is a major problem in Thailand. The opinions of imbeciles with money and connections are given too much attention
You mean like the always reliable archives held by the CCP in Beijing (just an example) ? The ones corroborating the millions spent by Mao Zedong on “revolutionary causes” in Southeast Asia. Yes, I am sure those can be had rather easily.
As a thinking person, I would not want to accept the version given by individuals. For the truth the prevail and for people to make an informed decision, make all official documents available as the British did. Institute a Freedom of Information Act, anything less than than simply means no one will trust the governments version. Why hide behind mere rhetoric. Release the archives.
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Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
And had the CPM come to power, with very little doubt, there would be thousands of Malayans detained without trial. Vaclav Havel did not change his mind, but Kassim Ahmad did and earlier found flaws in Socialism as he now finds flaws in the Islamic Hadiths. Despite all the innumerable flaws in Malaysia today, I see very few Malaysians, understandably unhappy with a corrupt and unresponsive government (as I have commented on frequently), calling for Malaysia to become a Communist nation. The burning issue for Malaysia today is to improve human rights and accountability, so that illegal detention does not take
place. The same goes for Singapore. Maoist
totalitarianism was hardly the answer, 60 years ago for Malaya and Singapore, and is undoubtedly less so, today. Nations, like Taiwan, have proven (though imperfect) one need not have to choose solely between totalitarianism of the Left or of the Right. And yes, I had an uncle “detained” in a Japanese POW camp in what is now Indonesia, he did survive and did not change his mind, that neither the Japanese “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” (хдзцЭ▒ф║ЮхЕ▒цжохЬП Dai-t┼Н-a Ky┼Нeiken), the Indonesian independence movements,
nor Communism, would have saved him. His soul saved him, not ideology.
Assault on Nick Nostitz
AFAIK Nick has not posted on NM something I only discovered via Twitter – but I see no reason why that should prevent me from now drawing NM readers’ attention to it. The content should be self-explanatory.
I am in need of help
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
Ms Teo, as an opposition politician requesting an inquiry on well established historical facts, verified by information from multiple sources, I question not just your motives, but your integrity.
This revisionism that you pursue must necessarily must be aired in an Australian website, far from the eye of the Singaporean public, because you know the ridicule you must surely face from the general public in mainstream Singapore.
Such blatant outright lying will not win you any votes in the struggle for the hearts and minds of Singaporean citizens. The voting population of Singapore looks for the politician who genuinely cares for our interests instead of those pursuing their own personal agenda of vengeance. It is for this reason that the Worker’s Party in Singapore has gone for strength to strength in the recent general elections while your SDP party continues to languish in ignominy.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
If you were ever detained without trial (regardless of whether you were innocent or not), you might just change your mind.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
Mr Gafoor was born in Oct 1965 too young to have personal observations except through the spectacles of Lee Kuan Yew. A biased piece of writing at best.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
A nice feint, Teo, but it doesn’t cut it. You know Lee is not well, and is not in the best condition to provide detailed ‘testimony’ as he might have, even ten years ago. You also know Dr Poh, James Fu and Chan are hardly a balanced cross-section. Why not invite Kishore who will just recommend doing away with the Western World altogether (and is far too young anyway to know about the CPM). Australia, neutral ? Oh, you mean like at ANU, where the mere utterance of the acronym LKY can get one banned from campus for life. It depends WHERE in Australia.
I would suggest Christchurch, NZ or Ottawa, Canada, instead. Is it that British and other “Orang Putih” who fought the CPM are somehow more biased than your choices ? Any commission must include not only those who (unwisely) sought to make Malaya a puppet regime of Maoist China, but also those who fought to make it not so.
Assault on Nick Nostitz
[…] Assault on Nick Nostitz BY NICHOLAS FARRELLY – 29 NOVEMBER 2013 Source: New Mandala […]
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
Why not have an independent commission of inquiry to hear out the people who are involved in that era. People like Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Poh, James Fu, Chan Sun Wing etc are still alive. Both sides can present evidence. Hold this inquiry on neutral ground, maybe Australia.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
……..and to head off the anticipated rebuttal. I KNOW that several former British Intelligence and other officers met Chin Peng, in Thailand, either out of some misplaced desire for reconciliation (in my view) or curiousity. I do not agree with their actions at all, but that is their decision to live with. However, I make no claim that an unwise publicity move constitutes lack of profound knowledge of the Emergency, many of these officers having been on the front lines.
As with Comber and others, whatever their feelings after the war, and for some, views have changed, I still acknowledge their objectivity and first-hand experience of the Emergency, which I witnessed myself as a child in Malaya, but claim no personal military expertise.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
Lai Teck hardly steered the CPM towards a “more moderate course” after the war. That is absurd. Lai Teck did not view the Emergency as just a war, but as a firm advance of Maoist China’s interests in Malaya. The goal was to install a Maoist Government in Malaya. That Lai Teck sold out everyone he came in contact with, does not in any way absolve him, of the bloodletting both within the CPM, where perceived competitors were killed, nor his involvement in the killing of innocent Malayans. How many of Mao’s own inner circle cadres were also charged with “treason” and executed by Mao and devotees like Lin Biao (who had some of Lai Teck’s “qualities”) ?
That Ching Peng himself had a dim view of Lai Teck, and so many naive young Singaporeans and Malaysians are ignorant of that period, either suggests that Chin Peng’s own views were insufficiently
gracious towards Lai Teck (laughable), or Chin Peng’s suspicions about Lai Teck were on target. Given that both were highly Machiavellian and completely egotistical
(witness Chin Peng’s pathetic attempts
at self-rehabilitation with a facile self-congratulatory book and an admiring coterie of Leftist Press to coddle him). I suggest you ask Leon Comber at Monash about Lai Teck. Comber will provide a VERY objective analysis of both Lai Teck and Chin Peng, one not provided by Poh Soo Kai.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
The biggest damage Lai Teck did was to weaken his own party by betraying party members to the Japanese and to the British, as well as steering it towards a moderate course in the immediate after-war period. He was working for the Japanese and for the British (and before that for the French). His work raises questions as to whether the authorities had additional trojan horses within the party and related organisations, and to what extent this helped or hindered intelligence operations and ‘managing’ the party and the movement. //
In order to advance the study and our understanding of colonial rule, decolonisation, and post-independence in Malaya / Malaysia and Singapore, notably with regard to the struggle for the hearts and minds of the population, it would be great if the archives in Singapore were made accessible to historians and others with an interest in these issues.
Singapore’s ‘Battle for Merger’ revisited
[…] хВЕцаСф╗Л шпСшАЕя╝Ъф╝Нх╛╖хНЧ 2014-12-10 https://wangruirong.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/щЗНц╕йцЦ░хКахЭбф║ЙхПЦхРИх╣╢чЪДцЦЧф║Й/ шЛ▒цЦЗхОЯцЦЗя╝Ъhttp://www.newmandala.org/2014/12/03/singapores-battle-for-merger-revisited/ […]
Thai Coup: A normal way of life
How the public feels about the institution of the monarchy is a really big issue in Thailand.
Thai Coup: A normal way of life
I think he meant to say “inside Thailand” …. but then again all of those buffalos voting for the thaksin-clique are from Isaan anyways…
Thai Coup: A normal way of life
But surely whatever a pardon would “suggest” is irrelevant; at least if I am correct in assuming that the grounds for a pardon are to see miscarriages of justice remediated.
Just what inferences members of society might draw from a pardon, assuming it was granted, should really not be an issue at all.
Thai Coup: A normal way of life
You can easily substitute ‘King’ with ‘Kim’ in the statement above and you get the same message from another great country,
Thai Coup: A normal way of life
In summary: Who writes is more important than what is written. This is a major problem in Thailand. The opinions of imbeciles with money and connections are given too much attention
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
There are many retirees in Singapore who could attest to the violent acts committed by CPM members from 1950s through the 1970s.
CPM has a hit squad to take down civilians and law enforcement officials who stood in their away.
Revisionists ignored these facts.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
You mean like the always reliable archives held by the CCP in Beijing (just an example) ? The ones corroborating the millions spent by Mao Zedong on “revolutionary causes” in Southeast Asia. Yes, I am sure those can be had rather easily.
Reponse to Poh Soo Kai’s allegations
As a thinking person, I would not want to accept the version given by individuals. For the truth the prevail and for people to make an informed decision, make all official documents available as the British did. Institute a Freedom of Information Act, anything less than than simply means no one will trust the governments version. Why hide behind mere rhetoric. Release the archives.