A lawyer who represented former secretary-general of the Communist Party of Malaya Chin Peng has denied that the veteran fighter is in a coma.

Chan Kok Keong told Malaysiakini said that the rumours that Chin Peng, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, is incorrect.

chan kok keong 040309 "He is fine and not in a coma as some media reported," said the lawyer.

Chan ( left ) said he had contacted Chin Peng's carer in Thailand, who had reported his true condition.

Chan said he had also just spoken to Chin Peng on the phone, and the former CPM leader told him: "I am in the best of my health."

"I do not know how come this rumours came to exist. He is in Bangkok, but he is definitely not in a hospital as reported," said Chan.

"Rumours of his ill health or the doctors calling for his family are untrue."

Chan represented Chin Peng in his legal bid to return back to Malaysia.

chin peng interview 021209 03 However, the Federal Court had disallowed the bid after he failed to provide documentary evidence to prove him is a citizen of Malaysia.

Lawyers representing him had claimed that Chin Peng - who hails from Setiawan, Perak - had lost his birth certificate during the communist insurgency.

The lawyer had even obtained former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Nor's consent as a witness to testify.

Rahim was the Special Branch chief who signed the Hatyai Accord with Chin Peng to end four decades of hostility.