Profirio on the Communist Issue

[scroobal]

For those interested, this is the ST review

By Cheah Boon Kheng
Title: Malaya's Secret Police, 1945-60: The Role Of The Special Branch In The Malayan Emergency.
NOV 4 — Malaya's secret service, the Special Branch, succeeded in the fight against armed communist insurgency during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960).

In 1952, the Malayan and Singapore Special Branches became separate organisations. One reason for this was that the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) in Singapore was regarded as largely autonomous from the CPM in Malaya. Interestingly, the CPM's secretary-general, Chin Peng, did not seem to place much weight in his autobiography on the activities of the party's Singapore Town Committee in the overall context of the Malayan insurgency.

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Though I have high regards for Cheah as he wrote an excellent book "Red Star Over Malaysia", I fear there has been a conflict of interest. Comber's book was published under the auspices of ISEAS and Monash. Cheah is a visiting prof to NUS Dept of History whose Dean who happens to be with ISEAS must had a word to get this done.

In 1952, the Malayan and Singapore Special Branches did not separate as they were not part of the same outfit. They were part of the Police Forces of 2 separate political entities who answered to different Legislative Assemblys.

In 1952, the decision was made to separate Special Branch from CID which it was part of all along. And this is in reference to the Malayan Police Force. Comber did not make this mistake but Cheah obviously skimmed thru the book to get this review done. Really shocking for a historian.

In 1963, Singapore merged with Malaysia and that was the only time that Special Branch got together and briefly until 1965. Even then agreed to cooperate as usual but kept operations separately as old man refused to give up his eyes and ears.

Where was Cheah Boon Keng when the merger was taking place. If we got Historians like that, how the hell to does mankind learn from the mistakes from the past. Now with that mistake, Cheak concludes that Chin Peng did hint that communist struggles for both sides were different. What hogwash.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Oh dear, thanks for your clarifications.

In 1952, the Malayan and Singapore Special Branches did not separate as they were not part of the same outfit. They were part of the Police Forces of 2 separate political entities who answered to different Legislative Assemblys.

In 1952, the decision was made to separate Special Branch from CID which it was part of all along. And this is in reference to the Malayan Police Force. Comber did not make this mistake but Cheah obviously skimmed thru the book to get this review done. Really shocking for a historian. .

Yes, does seem somewhat curious and strange, considering what Plen and even Chin Peng said in their books.

Where was Cheah Boon Keng when the merger was taking place. If we got Historians like that, how the hell to does mankind learn from the mistakes from the past. Now with that mistake, Cheak concludes that Chin Peng did hint that communist struggles for both sides were different. What hogwash.