British Army WWII veteran defends Chin Peng

Today's Sun newspaper published in P.12 a very enlightening or mind-opening interview with a retired captain of the British Army Lawrence Chew, 82, who publicly hails veteran of the Communist Party of Malaya Chin Peng as "a freedom fighter".

He also reportedly said that during the 'Emergency' between 1948 and 1960, Chin Peng fought against the British who had re-colonised Malaya after the Japanese withdrew, and not against the people.

Chew also reportedly said that, during the Occupation when many were killed by the Japanese invaders, "Chin Peng gathered people and led them into the jungle for survival" and later "taught and trained the British forces to fight the Japanese in the jungle".

Chew himself joined the British Army at 17 and fought alongside the communist guerrilla forces.

After the outbreak of the anti-colonial war in June 1948, Chew fought his communist ex-allies until 1950. Chew, who now lives in Selayang, calls for the ban on Amir Mouhammad Lelaki Komunis 'Terakhir' to be lifted and Chin Peng be allowed to return to his homeland.