Lau Heo Hnui (Burmah Cross) - restful place for lunch


From Rashid Maidin’s memoirs

9 The Commonwealth Communist Parties Conference 1947

After the second world war, the political consciousness of the peoples, especially of Asia, grew sharply. They wanted colonialism - their oppressor - to end and wanted immediate independence. This was the situation in which the Commonwealth Communist Parties Conference was held in 1947. From Malaya the Malayan Communist Party sent three delegates who represented the three major races being myself, a Malay, Wu Tien Wang, a Chinese, and Balan, an Indian.

When I was chosen I did not think that I was suitable for the job. When Chin Peng told me of the decision he asked me how I felt. I replied that it was not right because I had only a shallow knowledge of things. Chin Peng said, “Then go to London and learn.” Chin Peng was right. I steeled myself and hoped to learn on the journey abroad and increase my knowledge and experience on visits to other countries.

We went by ship across the Indian Ocean. It was my first trip abroad. I looked as far as I could above the roaring and rolling waves. I thought I was lucky and at the same time proud that I had been entrusted with the task of being a delegate to the country of the Mat Salleh. A poor son of the soil, with a low standard of education and, a worker who would never have had such a chance as this if it were not for the struggle. In those days visiting foreign countries, such as England, was not for anybody; it was only for the rich and influential who went at the bidding of the British.

I recalled the words of Raifel: “Wherever you go, you will find friends as along as you are in the great struggle”. This was exactly what I experienced for soon, I found friends in the struggle abroad. How happy and proud I was.

On the same ship were two White priests from Indonesia. These two Christians did not know who we were though we ate at the same table. They questioned us but we did to reveal who we were. They told us that Indonesia was upside down, caused by the communists. There was no safety anywhere so they were forced to go to London. We asked why. They told us that Indonesians were tame and easy to look after. Forty rupiah a month was big money to them. Even twenty to thirty rupiah was no problem. But when the communist arrived there is trouble, forcing them to leave for London. I was angry hearing this but had to discipline myself to silence, otherwise a quarrel would develop, doing no good to anyone. I thought to myself: ”Those communists in Indonesia are my heroes fighting for their country’s independence. These White Christians are the representatives of the colonialists. Their thinking and their attitude is colonising a country.”

The days passed and the ship got to India where it stopped fo two days. Friends of the communist party of India led by its leader P C Joshi welcomed us and brought us to their headquarters. We were served rice on banana leaves. Although we had never met before we became close friends, bound by the spirit of internationalism and joint struggle. They joined us in the journey to London.

When our train arrived at Liverpool, a group wearing red flowers ran up with welcoming looks entered the train shouting, “From Malaya? From Malaya?” We greeted them and embraced them for they were from the communist party of England come to welcome us.

Delegates arrived from the Commonwealth and we were able to talk and to exchange experiences. I felt proud and lucky to be with such a great and noble gathering. We had never met before but internationalism gave us one heart and one life. All came together as equals. My mind flashed back to the days before World War II. When we met a White man we had to say “Tabik tuan” and we were taught that in school too. And all work would stop. It was as if they were angels from heaven. So when I arrived in London his remained stuck in my mind that the White man had a comfortable life, and was respected. Although I had seen them fleeing in disorder before the Japanese fascist onslaught, my picture of the White man in England was different. When I walked abut in London there were people coming up to me to ask if I had a card. In those days you needed a card to buy clothes and food. Everyone had to have a ration card. The fellows who came up to me had cards to sell. There were many down and outs roaming the streets. They used many ways to find food. Some begged. Surely the high and mighty White man coud not be that poor! I then forgot my anger. I stopped at the shoeshine and had my shoes cleaned. It was a mental revolution for me.

Coming back to the Commonwealth Conference, it lasted one week. The delegations as I remember were from Malaya, Burma, Ceylon, India, Australia, Canada and from the Middle East. The communist party of England was the host. Each delegation made a report on the struggles for independence. We reported on the fight against the Japanese fascists led by the communist party, the awakening of the masses after the war and the movement for independence. The conference gave high praise to our delegation as representatives of the heroes who died fighting the Japanese fascists and there was thunderous applause for us. There were many who were amazed that our armed people fought the Japanese fascists for three years; to them it was a mystery. They wanted to know how we communists organised an army that moved swiftly in the jungle, organised attacks and other matters.

The Cenference ended with drafting a declaration demanding independence for all British colonies. It was aimed at removing the British grip on lands they had grabbed and encouraging the international struggle for independence. Although it was the fist time we met, my internationalist friends left a deep impression. After that we often corresponded by telegram or letters.

When we were in London there was an unexpected visit by an English woman who claimed to be a messenger from Tunku Abdul Rahman who was then doing his law studies. We asked where the Tunku was but she said he was very busy but had a letter for us which she delivered. In his letter the Tunku apologised for not being able to attend the conference as an observer and he sent his best wishes for its success.

The former British Resident of Selangor, too, sent a letter in which he hoped to meet me to discuss political developments in Malaya. I thought this must be because the British colonialists wanted to know at first hand the development of the communist ideology among the Malays, a threat to their rule. I ignored the letter.

No long after our delegation returned a delegation comprising Dr Burhanuddin Al-Helmy, Abdullah CD and others left to attend the Afro-Asia Conference at New Delhi which was also to discuss the independence of the countries of Asia. When they returned I toured the country with Dr Burhanuddin - I, representing the MCP, and Dr Burhanuddin the PKMM - to strengthen the call for independence by reporting the spirit of the conferences to the people.

Our delegation was warmly welcomed wherever we wwent. Extraordinary crowds met us in Malacca. In Kedah it was the same. They prepared food for us at the Saberkas Restaurant to which Khir Johari, Senu Abdul Rahman, Zahari Taib and others came. In Selangor we were welcomed by Melan Abdullah, Mustapha Hussein and others. In Kelantan we were met by Saad Shukri Hj Muda. We went to Kota Bharu, Pasir Puteh and other towns and held rallies. In Trengganu we were welcomed by Cik Muda from Besut and Ibrahim Fikri from Kuala Trengganu. Ustaz Abu Bakar Al-Baqir, a famous religious leader and prinxipal of a school the Sekolah Maahad Al-Ehya Assyarif, Gunung Samanggol, welcomed us in Perak.

During this journey I was inspired by the reception we got. Even family members of the sultans attended our talks and meetings. The spirit of merdeka was truly alive in the country.

(To be continued)

Letter from Pulau Tikus

Bad news

I think we have to face the facts squarely, writes Syed Akbar Ali. . Foreign investors are losing interest in our country. Foreign Direct Investment fell 81% in 2009. Not only have FDI’s decreased substantially but domestic investment in the manufacturing sector has also decreased over 2008 / 2009.

In 2009 the capital investment in manufacturing that was approved by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) fell 48% to RM32.6bil. Of this amount, FDI accounted for 68% or RM22.1bil, a 52% drop from the previous year. Over the same period, approvals of domestic investment fell to RM10.5bil or a 37.1% decline from 2008. These are approvals only. The actual startups usually suffer attrition too.

There was an outflow of capital amounting to RM117bil for 2008 and RM54bil for 1H 2009. The outflow of capital does not seem to be abating.

Malaysia now lags behind the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore in attracting FDIs.

Malaysia’s share of inward FDI into the Asean economies ranged between 10% - 12% over 1999-2003 and 2004-2008. Singapore captured 58% of FDIs into Asean in the first five year period and 45% over 2004-2008. Even Thailand did better than Malaysia by attracting 17% of FDIs over 2004-2008

Every one knows why but the no writer dares tell the truth..

No pity

The Minister of Women’s Affairs Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is reported to have said said that the buang bayi people whose actions result in the death of babies should be given the death penalty.

Syed Akbar Ali writes that he is surprised that Shahrizat has even lost her woman’s instincts. I would assume that women would or should be less cruel than men. Maybe I am naïve in this area. Maybe its the new age equality?

These are kids we are talking about – our children. Most of these baby dumping cases involve teenaged girls or young women. And a large majority of them (if not all of them) are Malays or Muslims. Has anyone stopped to think why this is so? They are just children. Children having children. And we want to sentence these children to death? Kenapa gila sangat suka bunuh orang ini?

We are supposed to preserve human life, not destroy life. These are young kids who are victims of their society and their strange belief systems. They are not hardened criminals or bank robbers. They need counseling and guidance. You don’t sentence them to death.

The writer says he is glad that the statement by the MCA’s Ng Yen Yen:

“MCA believes the problem of baby dumping can be tackled effectively through proper education and a change of mentality within society, said its vice president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. She said a reproductive health education programme could help prevent or reduce unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease. "MCA feels that the capital punishment proposed for dumping babies is too harsh and will only make things worse. Meting out the death penalty on those who abandon babies is too heavy a punishment," she told reporters.

As Ng Yen Yen suggests we need proper education to teach our young people. I feel that more than the boys (they don’t listen anyway) the girls should be given a comprehensive education beginning in secondary school about the entire reproductive process, pregnancy, birth control, self protection and preservation. In some countries they provide free birth control devices to teenagers. This is a very good idea. This is the “just in case” option. Just in case the girl gets into a tricky situation, at least she will know what to do.

We also need State funding to set up discrete yet easily accessible counselling centres and pre natal centres where pregnant teens can go for help and counselling. This part will require a sea change in our society’s attitude. But as Ng Yen Yen suggests, society needs to be educated too.

Death penalty

We are glad that the home minister rejects calls for the death penalty for child rapists. It will not solve the problem he said Those who glibly call for the death penalty should read the arguments of those in the British Parliament that finally convinced the pro-hanging advocates to finally agree that hanging was no solution for the crime that called for it.

Penang heritage week

We were sorry to see Emily of Emerald Hill presented as part of the celebration of Penang Heritage Week. This lamentable farce, a complete misrepresentation of the rich of Emerald Hill, Singapore is certainly not Penang. Equally sad is the Week’s presentation of so called “Nyonya dancing.” If the author had indeed a Nynonya for a mother she would have killed him I am sure for insultingly calling her a prostitute for that was what a Nynona thought of a women who danced, something horrible to be done by ronggeng and joget and more modernly the cheong sam clad cabaret girls . But to suggest that the Nyona danced! The cheek of the Penang Heritage Week!

Ban


The government has banned Zunar’s books of political cartoons.
Home Ministry Secretary-General Mahmood Adam said, “[The books] have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies.” Adding, “The contents are not suitable for and detrimental to public order.”

Zunar’s comment: “They can ban my books, they can ban my publications, but they can’t ban my mind! I will not stop drawing till the last drop of my pen.”

Was the reason the cover of the banned volume, ahowing Najib in command of his ship, KD Altantuya?

Jokers Without Any Sense of Humor, comments M Bakri Musa

Civil service

The chief minister’s criticism of the state development officer, his reort and subsequent defence by the chief secretary to the government shows how the civil service has gone down the drain since Dr Mahathir’s time. It would have been unheard of in the days when the civil service was the civil service devoted the loyal service to it masters, serving it in silence.

Suaram’s Urgent Appeals

what it tell us of government actions in Penang

* Stop the arrests of refugees and release the 45 Sri Lankan refugees now

* Release 9 student activists arrested for demanding campus autonomy and freedom of academic activity

* Stop the repatriation of the Sri Lankan refugees and asylum seekers now!

* Stop the Repatriation of the Sri Lankan Refugees Now!

* 16 Arrested at a Candlelight vigil near Dataran Merdeka


Rule of law

The construction of the hostel for RMAF trainees was carried out without a building plan/building permission approved by the MPPP. The MPPP stopped the work after receiving complaints from residents close by. It appears that work has indeed stopped.

But we learn that Federal projects elsewhere have stop orders.

Local governments should take the matter to court or call for amendments to the law, if they have not already done so

It’s a mystery why if the Council was serious it did not go to court. It’s also a mystery why no political party has said anything about this violation by the military of the rule of law

“Independent thinking”

Parti Sosialis Malaysia highlights the government’s desire to scrap exams and instead to get students to do “independent thinking.” It asks: “Does the media, controlled by, and serving as the mouthpiece of the ruling class, foster independent thinking? Do our institutions such as the judiciary encourage independent views? Haven’t independent minded judges been ungraciously removed? Haven’t civil society organizations critical of government policy been penalized with delayed registration, or in many cases denied registration altogether? Haven’t workers and other groups demonstrating for a minimum wage act that has been denied by the government so far, been harassed, and dispersed? And isn’t the ISA still retained by the government to put away individuals who dare to think and act independently? How about the University and University Colleges Act that stifles alternative and independent thinking and action among students in tertiary institutions?
Look at our school history books. More than one entire half of Malaysian history has been completely blacked out. The first groups that fought for independence from the British are not only not recognized but also, if at all mentioned, painted as traitors to the nation. Is Muhyiddin prepared to have our history books rewritten so that students are given the opportunity to look at the whole picture?

Guaranteed employment

What to do with retired ministers? Some retire with fortunes, others are appointed to new jobs in newly created bodies like the Land Public Transport Commission. We wonder what this new job creation baby is supposed to do.

My Second Home

We learn that of the 19,000 who have chosen Malaysia as “My Second Home” most are Chinese, followed by Bangladeshis But why only 19,000 .

Civil servants

The PM’s Department has 43,544 civil servants. The figure was 21045 in 2003. Unbelievable figures don’t you think? - but good for helping with the employment figures.

Pets

At last there are now “No pets” signs in coffee shops, part of the cleaner eating places campaign. We hope never to see again those moneyed girls in their London clothes feeding their “mama darlings” at the same table and from the same plates. Meanshile noone of the coffee shop owners dare tell their customers to leave with their dogs

Chilli powder

One reader has found a new use for chilli powder - as a deterrent to the hordes of squirrels, which feed from the bird food that the birds discard. Squirrels find chilli as challenging as humans so she pounded peanuts with dried chilli powder and sprinkled it on the ground and it seems to have done the trick. Birds do not have the receptors to recognise hot flavours so they can eat chilli flavoured peanuts with impunity!

Java sparrows

Once upon a time there was a man going round the town telling fortunes with the help of a Java sparrow, that lovely coloured bird. But in Europe the papers tell us that they prefer the octopus.

Taxi driver

One was spotted recently having only a left arm.

Seen

A banner announcing a “CAR SPA”