It is a pity that up till today, there is still a group of people who simply haven't a clue on how to differentiate the Communist Party of Malaya, the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and any Malayan in World War 2 who resisted the Japanese occupation.
In the same vein, atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders must never be confused with the Communist insurgency. These are two completely separate battles.
First and foremost, nowhere on the Nilai memorial does it mention anything which pays tribute to MPAJA or the CPM. The lines in four major languages clearly read: 'In memory of Malayan heroes in the resistance movement against Japanese invasion 1941-1945'.
It does not single out the MPAJA or CPM or Force 136. The monument is a tribute to all Malayans and their allies ie, all the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli, Australians, British, New Zealanders, Gurkhas and others who died resisting the Japanese atrocities.
This is not a monument to the MPAJA or to celebrate communism. We should also note that not all MPAJA members became communists.
In a letter to Utusan Malaysia on 19 Jan 07 entitled 'Memorial MPAJA bertentangan konsep patriotisme negara', either the writer is totally ignorant of historical facts or Bahasa Malaysia terminology. To allege that 'Konfrantasi antara China-Jepun akibat pendudukan Jepun di negara China telah diambil kesempatan oleh PKM untuk membalas dendam terhadap tentera Jepun di Tanah Melayu' (the CPM used the confrontation between China-Japan as a result of Japanese Occupation in China ... as an opportunity for vengeance against the Japanese army in Malaya) is pathetically incorrect.
There is a clear-cut distinction between revenge and defending a nation. How are the actions of Force 136 heroes like Lt Adenan and other MPAJA members - including those non-communists - in defending Malaya be construed as reprisal against Japanese invaders when they were earnestly defending our motherland?
The author of the said letter continued: 'Fakta sejarah menunjukkan pihak British tidak pernah mengiktiraf atau melayan kaum Cina dan India sebagai rakyat Tanah Melayu' (historical facts show that the British never recognised or entertained the Chinese and Indians as Malayan citizens).
Such allegations are nonsensical as Malayan citizenship did not apply to non-Malays born in the Straits Settlement states of Penang, Malacca and Singapore who were automatically given British citizenship upon registration of their births. When independence arrived in 1957, Penangites, Malaccans and Singaporeans automatically had their British citizenship converted to Malayan citizenship.
Neither was there a quid pro quo arrangement of bequeathing British or Malayan or Malaysian citizenship on non-Malays in exchange for granting special privileges to the Malays.
How can anyone confuse the construction of the monolith in Nilai as an act against patriotism and loyalty for Malaysia? It is because of the love and nationalism for Malaya by the resistance movement that its members chose to defend the nation in the process risking their lives for the country, suffering malnutrition, forced labour, sexual slavery and death at the hands of the Kempetei and other Japanese soldiers.
Why can't there be any respect and recognition for all the Malayans and other British subjects who suffered at the hands of the Japanese? About 70,000 people from all ethnic communities were killed, while another 80,000 perished as the result of torture and imprisonment. An additional 300,000 died because of malnutrition and physical exhaustion in performing forced hard labour.
Malayans from all ethnic groups also suffered as a result of communist atrocities. The Chinese, too, suffered at the hands of the Chinese.
Once again, I have to strongly reiterate, that World War II and the resistance against the Japanese Imperial Army by Force 136, the MPAJA and Askar Wataniah lasted from 1941 till 1945. The battle against the communists was waged during the Emergency years which were from 1948 until 1960.
Two different wars against two different foes, at two different periods in Malayan history.
Who really is getting confused? Opponents against the monument who claim it was built to glorify the CPM and the communist insurgency or the monument's builders who built it to commemorate the contributions and valiant sacrifices of those from all walks of society who died while defending their nation from the Japanese?
