My final message – Chin Peng
September 21,
2013
UPDATED: Sep 21, 2013 06:54
pm
My dear comrades, my dear compatriots,
When you read this letter, I am no more in this world.
It was my original intention to pass away quietly and let my relatives
handle
the funeral matters in private. However, the repercussions of erroneous
media
reports of me in critical condition during October 2011, had persuaded me
that
leaving behind such a letter is desirable.
Ever since I joined the Communist Party of Malaya and eventually became
its
secretary-general, I have given both my spiritual and physical self in the
service of the cause that my party represented, that is, to fight for a
fairer
and better society based on socialist ideals. Now with my passing away, it
is
time that my body be returned to my family.
I draw immense comfort in the fact that my two children are willing to
take
care of me, a father who could not give them family love, warmth and
protection
ever since their birth. I could only return my love to them after I had
relinquished my political and public duties, ironically only at a time
when I
have no more life left to give to them as a father.
It was regrettable that I had to be introduced to them well advanced in
their
adulthood as a stranger. I have no right to ask them to understand, nor to
forgive. They have no choice but to face this harsh reality. Like families
of
many martyrs and comrades, they too have to endure hardship and suffering
not
out of their own doing, but out of a consequence of our decision to
challenge
the cruel forces in the society which we sought to change.
It is most unfortunate that I couldn't, after all, pay my last respects to
my
parents buried in hometown of Sitiawan (in Perak), nor could I set foot on
the
beloved motherland that my comrades and I had fought so hard for against
the
aggressors and colonialists.
My comrades and I had dedicated our lives to a political cause that we
believed in and had to pay whatever price there was as a result. Whatever
consequences on ourselves, our family and the society, we would accept
with
serenity.
In the final analysis, I wish to be remembered simply as a good man who
could
tell the world that he had dared to spend his entire life in pursuit of
his own
ideals to create a better world for his people.
It is irrelevant whether I succeeded or failed, at least I did what I did.
Hopefully the path I had walked on would be followed and improved upon by
the
young after me. It is my conviction that the flames of social justice and
humanity will never die. – September 21, 2013.
* Chin Peng died at hospital in Bangkok on Malaysia Day, September 16,
2013 at the age of 89.This is his final letter to his comrades and
compatriots published in his memorial booklet.
September 21,
2013
UPDATED: Sep 21, 2013 06:54
pm
My dear comrades, my dear compatriots,
When you read this letter, I am no more in this world.
It was my original intention to pass away quietly and let my relatives
handle
the funeral matters in private. However, the repercussions of erroneous
media
reports of me in critical condition during October 2011, had persuaded me
that
leaving behind such a letter is desirable.
Ever since I joined the Communist Party of Malaya and eventually became
its
secretary-general, I have given both my spiritual and physical self in the
service of the cause that my party represented, that is, to fight for a
fairer
and better society based on socialist ideals. Now with my passing away, it
is
time that my body be returned to my family.
I draw immense comfort in the fact that my two children are willing to
take
care of me, a father who could not give them family love, warmth and
protection
ever since their birth. I could only return my love to them after I had
relinquished my political and public duties, ironically only at a time
when I
have no more life left to give to them as a father.
It was regrettable that I had to be introduced to them well advanced in
their
adulthood as a stranger. I have no right to ask them to understand, nor to
forgive. They have no choice but to face this harsh reality. Like families
of
many martyrs and comrades, they too have to endure hardship and suffering
not
out of their own doing, but out of a consequence of our decision to
challenge
the cruel forces in the society which we sought to change.
It is most unfortunate that I couldn't, after all, pay my last respects to
my
parents buried in hometown of Sitiawan (in Perak), nor could I set foot on
the
beloved motherland that my comrades and I had fought so hard for against
the
aggressors and colonialists.
My comrades and I had dedicated our lives to a political cause that we
believed in and had to pay whatever price there was as a result. Whatever
consequences on ourselves, our family and the society, we would accept
with
serenity.
In the final analysis, I wish to be remembered simply as a good man who
could
tell the world that he had dared to spend his entire life in pursuit of
his own
ideals to create a better world for his people.
It is irrelevant whether I succeeded or failed, at least I did what I did.
Hopefully the path I had walked on would be followed and improved upon by
the
young after me. It is my conviction that the flames of social justice and
humanity will never die. – September 21, 2013.
* Chin Peng died at hospital in Bangkok on Malaysia Day, September 16,
2013 at the age of 89.This is his final letter to his comrades and
compatriots published in his memorial booklet.
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