Govt urged to probe Hat Yai Peace Accord tribute organisers

KUALA LUMPUR: A coalition comprising 11 associations of retired police personnel has urged the government to launch an investigation into the organisers of two events commemorating the Hat Yai Peace Accord in Sepang and Kajang.

Retired Senior Police Officers Association of Malaysia (Respa) president Tan Sri Ismail Che Rus said action must be taken against the organisers if they broke the law.

“Any attempt to revive the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) or even sympathise with the party should be dealt with decisively.

“CPM is a banned association. We must never forget the atrocities committed by its member,” he told reporters yesterday after a gathering of those against the rise of communism at Padang Merbok.

Ismail said the government should issue a warning against anyone attempting to honour the CPM, its members or leaders.

“The Home Ministry should take a firmer stand on such matters.

“We also hope anyone with information on such attempts to report the matter to the authorities.”

Ismail said the coalition also called on the government to investigate incidents where the Jalur Gemilang was presented wrongly.

“Apologies are not sufficient. The authorities ensure that action is taken against the culprit,” he said.

The coalition, according to Ismail, was also disappointed with those who tried to give different perspectives to CPM’s struggles and called for the history to be rewritten.

“Such actions are an insult to security forces personnel who sacrificed their lives fighting the CPM.

“Think about the families of those killed by CPM members,” he said.

Among former high-ranking police officers at the event yesterday were former Inspector-General of Police Tun Haniff Omar, former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, former Deputy IGP Tan Sri Hussin Ismail and former Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah.

Former Home Minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar was also present.

It was reported that three out of nine groups believed to be part of an event in Kajang to commemorate the Hat Yai Peace Accord, have been hauled up by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

RoS said it issued a notice under Section 66 of the Societies Act for the committee members concerned to explain their involvement in the commemoration ceremony.

It said that the other six organisations were not registered.

Former members of the now defunct CPM met in Kajang on Dec 1 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hat Yai Peace Accord, signed on Dec 2, 1989, by the Malaysian government and CPM.

Former IGP Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor, when contacted, said there was nothing wrong with commemorating the Hat Yai Peace Accord.

“The gathering is not wrong but you have to have a permit from the authorities especially when there are speeches made,” he said.