Malaysian opposition MP and Vice-President of the People's Justice Party (PKR) Tian Chua attended the funeral service for ex-Communist Party of Malaya General Secretary Chin Peng at Wat That Thong temple, Bangkok on Saturday (21 Sept).

Tian Chua, Vice-President of the People's Justice Party (PKR) and Malaysian opposition MP who attended the funeral service for the late Chin Peng, leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), at Wat That Thong temple, Bangkok, on 21 September 2013.

"I came as a friend and family member and also a Malaysian. For Chin Peng, we have our evaluation of his role in the country whether we can agree or disagree over the ideology for his former struggle. We must recognise that he was part of Malaysian history. He and his generation have shaped what we are today. And together with other leaders in Southeast Asia, he shaped the map of Southeast Asia." Tian Chua said after attending the ritual.

"So we can’t deny the existence of such a movement. And we could not deny that he has played a role in building Malaysia as well as the entire national liberation history of Southeast Asia. So we are here to pay recognition to this." said the PKR Vice-President.

“It's important that we learn from history. And if those people who are in power today claim that they are on the right side, I would say only one thing to those who have humanity and a belief in the superiority of a democratic system: We treat people with compassion. We tolerate differences. We allow a multiplicity of interpretations of society and history. And that's why there should be a legacy that we should defend.

“And I hope future generations will continue to appreciate these values. Our treatment of the history of Chin Peng should also be based on the fundamental values that we uphold”

Wall exhibition of newspaper cuttings reporting news of Chin Peng's death.

Earlier on Friday (20 Sept), former 4th Army Commanders of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Pisarn Wattanawongkiri and Gen Kitti Ratanachaya attended the funeral service. General Secretary of the former Communist Party of Thailand Thong Chamsri and other retired members also came to pay their last respects to Chin Peng.

Notably Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand, the youngest daughter of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also sent a wreath for the late CPM leader.

After fighting against the Japanese and British occupation of the Malay peninsula and then against government of Malaysia since the 1940s and signing a peace agreement with the Malaysian government at Hat Yai in 1989, Chin Peng lived in exile in Thailand and was not permitted to return to Malaysia. He died at the age of 88 on the 50th anniversary of Malaysia day.

Cremation for late CPM leader is scheduled for Monday evening.