As a humanitarian and a follower of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, I believe that Chin Peng - despite his past transgressions - should be allowed to return to this country to visit his parents' graves.

During the communist insurrection known as the Emergency, both my father and grandfather were top targets of the communists. The most severe attack took place in Ipoh on April 10, 1949, two months after the MCA was formed by my grandfather.

On that day, a hand grenade was thrown at my grandfather by the communists. Although his shoulder was severely wounded by the hand grenade - his shirt was soaked in blood - my grandfather survived this assassination attempt.

As a Chinese Malaysian political leader, my father received death threats from the communists. He had to visit the family's rubber plantations escorted by the police. When my mother saw my father leave for work every morning, she said she never knew whether he would return home that evening.

Both my grandfather and father were staunch followers of the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. When we were growing up, my sisters and I were drilled on the importance of ancestral worship - the ritual of visiting the graves of ancestors, burning joss sticks and offering them prayers as well as food.

For those who abide by the Chinese philosopher's teachings, ancestral worship is the most visible manifestation of filial piety. Admittedly, Chin Peng is unlikely to be a follower of Confucius. But his desire to visit his parents' graves suggests a belated acknowledgment of his duty as a filial son.

Furthermore, despite the grenade attack, my grandfather never held a personal grudge against the communists.

When the communists sent a letter to Tunku Abdul Rahman requesting a meeting between the Alliance leader, my grandfather and Chin Peng - a request which led to the Baling talks on December 28 and 29,1955 - my grandfather readily agreed to meet the man who had probably masterminded his attempted assassination.

Some may argue allowing Chin Peng to return to this country - even if briefly to enable him to visit his parents' graves - would dishonour the memory of the thousands from all ethnic groups who were either injured or killed during the Emergency.

The fact is under the peace agreement the Malaysian government signed with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) on Dec 2, 1989, several hundred ex-communists were allowed to return to this country.

Out of 442 applications from the communists who applied to return to Malaysia, 406 attended the interviews and met the requirements, Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusof said recently.

Chin Peng also submitted an application but failed to attend the interview fixed for Oct 31, 1992, the deputy minister added. That Chin Peng was called for an interview suggests the Malaysian government was prepared to consider his application.

Ex-CPM party leaders like Abdullah CD, Shamsiah Fakeh and Musa Ahmad were allowed to return to this country, according to news reports. Their return - as well as those of the other 403 successful applicants - failed to trigger any significant storm of protest or criticism, either then or now.

Some may claim the 406 successful applicants were not involved in any terrorist activity. Given the fact that guerrilla organisations like the CPM are notoriously lean, it is hard to believe that all 406 individuals allowed to return to this country were all non-combatants.

Apart from ex-CPM members, Malaysians' magnanimity has also been extended to the Japanese. During the Japanese Occupation, unspeakable atrocities were inflicted on the people in this country, causing many to suffer ill-treatment and torture while the death toll was high.

When the then Crown Prince Akhito, now Emperor, visited this country, he was warmly welcomed even though the war was waged in the name of his father, Emperor Hirohito. This forward-looking approach is admirable and should be extended to all those who have hurt Malaysians in the past.

Malaysians should also emulate the example set by South Africa's Nelson Mandela. As a leader of the African National Congress (ANC), he was imprisoned by leaders of the apartheid regime for 27 years and treated harshly.

When Mandela became the first president of post-apartheid South Africa, his main priority was reconciliation with South African whites rather than prosecuting past leaders of the apartheid regime.

Although Mandela is now lionised worldwide, it is often forgotten in the early 1960s, he was often demonised (unfairly) as a communist and a terrorist. He was the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, whose acts at times resulted in civilian casualties.

Like Mandela, Malaysians should look forward to the future - rather than remain trapped in the past - and allow an 85-year-old man to return to pay his respects to his parents' graves.