YOURSAY ‘That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Whether CPM or CPC, it's all the same.'

Khairy: Communist Party not the same as CPM

Onlooker: Until yesterday, I, like probably most of the other commentators, had never heard of this movie, ‘The New Village'.

However, it appears to be a love story set in a new village in a particular period of our history. To make such a fuss about the aspect of communism is like saying we are supporting the Japanese if a local girl fell in love with a Japanese soldier.

My relatives were among those herded into a new village and life was not easy. They were guarded like prisoners and rice and other supplies were rationed so they could not feed the communists, who hassled them a lot.

They were at risk of threats every day from CPM members when they left the village to tend to their rubber or other crops. Even until the 1970s, the wire fences and barbed wire could be seen and many houses still had dirt floors.

Wira: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) is part of the Malaysian history. It depicted the failure of a party seeking to save the country from the evils of capitalism.

Even though it drew support from the Chinese community, it was never a racial nor a racist party. The Malaysian government had already accepted the surrender of CPM even though it had reneged, on a racial basis, on the resettlement terms for the former communists.

So I would advise that you not try to shut off everything that is CPM-related because the Communist Party in China (CPC) also has its roots in terrorism and militancy following Mao Zedong's dictate, "Political power grows from the barrel of a gun."

There is little philosophical difference between the CPC and CPM in their militant struggles, except that the former was victorious whereas the latter wasn't.

Odin: What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. What's in a name? Communist is communist. Whether CPM or CPC, it's all the same.

Geronimo: Khairy, you just do not know your history. Are you aware that China was providing arms to the CPM during the Emergency?

Do you know that former communist party leader Chin Peng and former CPM chairperson Musa Ahmad were the guests of the Communist Party of China for many years?

Where do you think the CPM adopted their ideology and guerilla warfare tactic from? From former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno? No, it was from the Communist Party of China. Without all these elements, they would have perished long time ago.

It is definitely an apple to apple comparison. For all that China has done, especially harbouring the many CPM fugitives, don't you think you should avoid having anything to do with them.

Please, just because you are now in league with these Chinese commies, we can understand why you need to get defensive.

Cantabrigian: Nice try, Khairy. Are you saying the current Communist Party of China is much better that the Bintang Tiga before?

These are the same guys who are torturing and killing Muslims in Southern China just for being Muslims. Try to explain that to your average Umno folks; they might even accuse you of being a communist sympathiser.

Sabahan: Thought there is at least one Umno politician with a modicum of intelligence. It appears that intelligence will disappear with time if one stays in Umno.

CPM is modelled after the China Communist Party. The CCP has matured with time, unlike Umno which has sunk deeper in the gutters.

Karma: CPM's communism post-1945 was inspired by the Communist Party of China. It was over a long, long time ago.

There is no more threat of that era's communism however much one glorifies it. So Khairy should not be concerned. The same with the scores of movies depicting the torturous Japanese occupation. We never felt angry with Japanese today as those were different eras.

Whereas ‘Tanda Putera' spread lies about our history. Till today, Malays, Chinese, Indians and others live together harmoniously. Why does ‘Tanda Putera' want to spread lies to split us apart? That is the major concern.

MockingYou: KJ, most of the Communist Party of China members are corrupt so I wouldn't be surprised if you find affinity there.

As for CPM, well I don't like them so no issue with you not liking them too, but please get the facts right on where they got their funding from before you open up and say, ‘Aaaaahhhhhhhhh'.

Oxford sure doesn't make 'em like they used to.

FairGame: Malaysia has the dubious distinction of having different sets of laws, rules, interpretation for different people.

For dissenters and those in the opposition, they are always perceived to be in the wrong by Umno. If it's Umno stand, they are to be taken as gospel truth and not to be challenged.

Even the Election Commission (EC), Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the police, and to an extent, the legal fraternity, are beholden to Umno.

This is the justice that Malaysians are getting, Umno-style.

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