Has the "Liang San 108 Staircase" anything to do with the 108 legendary heroes of Liangshan, the "Water Margin", the hideout of the Chinese "Outlaws (or Heroes) of the Marshes"?
The classic novel, though not a Marxist or Marxist-Leninist work, was a favourite read of Old Comrade Mao Zedong pbuh. Pearl Buck translated the book into Angmohspeak and gave it the rather nutty title "All Men are Brothers", a phrase borrowed from Old Kongzi, "Confucius" to some of you barbarians.
For now, can't leave here without at least a word about Old Comrade Chin Peng pbuh, he too was some kind of a legendary hero. His memory is kept alive by even those whose asses he whacked, he is ever resurrected and whined about by those sore losers still going on and on about the long gone "Communists".
Well, one of the many heroic exploits of Chin Peng fighting the Japs, Brits, and their local lackeys was the rather uneventful surprise meeting with Henry Gurney. Chin Peng just shot the colonial bastard and that was that, no "pomp and circumstance", Handel's Scipio, and all that.. It was more like the below farmer and rabbit...
The execution of Gurney was just as non-event to the Brit soldiers who served in Malaya whom I had the pleasure of meeting when I was in Blighty. They were more full of admiration for the "communist terrorists" who managed to sneak into the Brit camps in the dead of night to plant their flags on the high British flagpoles.
The IRA and Sinn Fein, too, we're full of admiration for Chin Peng and his merry outlaws, but that's another bunch of stories... and real history!
The CPM was dwindling in support and prestige after 1957 because with independence, Chin Peng lost his biggest political point. However with the anti Chinese pogrom in 1969, thousands of Chinese youths 'disappeared' into the jungle and thus the CPM was rejuvenated. In fact by the early 80s they were so strong, a battalion strength trekked down from north Perak down all the way to Johor. They were well armed and trekked in full view along the villages in the rural areas. MCG Pillay noted that the B/G of 6th brigade was aware but reluctant to engage the CTs. Mr Pillay called him a coward. This is in Mr Pillay's blog called Sangkanchil. It is remarkable that this large group of CTs were left to their own devices. Even their appearance in their old sanctuaries in Johor did not arouse any military response. Of course the CTs trekked all the way back to Thailand untouched. It is obvious to historians why this is so. After 1969, attacks on MAF in the jungles intensified resulting in high casualties , esp among the 2RMR, the resident battalion in KL in 1969. This unit was specially targeted for its role in 13May and suffered high double digit deaths in each tour of duty. In the end, it was removed from future tours of duty.
In 1987, the Thai southern command realised that the CPM was not their enemy and thus signed a peace treaty and the formation of peace villages in southern Thailand. This news shocked Mahathir and he felt that the CPM will now turn its eyes southwards. He reached out to Chin Peng to sign a similar deal but was snubbed. Dr M was forced to appeal to Deng Siow Peng and thus a deal was cut between the CPM and Malaysia in 1989 in Beijing.
Ref: MCG Pillay in Sangkanchil. Several chapters.
Chin Peng's Book. My side of history.
Chin Peng's Interview in Canberra. Malaysian representatives were present.
Has the "Liang San 108 Staircase" anything to do with the 108 legendary heroes of Liangshan, the "Water Margin", the hideout of the Chinese "Outlaws (or Heroes) of the Marshes"?
The classic novel, though not a Marxist or Marxist-Leninist work, was a favourite read of Old Comrade Mao Zedong pbuh. Pearl Buck translated the book into Angmohspeak and gave it the rather nutty title "All Men are Brothers", a phrase borrowed from Old Kongzi, "Confucius" to some of you barbarians.
For now, can't leave here without at least a word about Old Comrade Chin Peng pbuh, he too was some kind of a legendary hero. His memory is kept alive by even those whose asses he whacked, he is ever resurrected and whined about by those sore losers still going on and on about the long gone "Communists".
Well, one of the many heroic exploits of Chin Peng fighting the Japs, Brits, and their local lackeys was the rather uneventful surprise meeting with Henry Gurney. Chin Peng just shot the colonial bastard and that was that, no "pomp and circumstance", Handel's Scipio, and all that.. It was more like the below farmer and rabbit...
The execution of Gurney was just as non-event to the Brit soldiers who served in Malaya whom I had the pleasure of meeting when I was in Blighty. They were more full of admiration for the "communist terrorists" who managed to sneak into the Brit camps in the dead of night to plant their flags on the high British flagpoles.
The IRA and Sinn Fein, too, we're full of admiration for Chin Peng and his merry outlaws, but that's another bunch of stories... and real history!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SXmk8dbFv_o
The CPM was dwindling in support and prestige after 1957 because with independence, Chin Peng lost his biggest political point. However with the anti Chinese pogrom in 1969, thousands of Chinese youths 'disappeared' into the jungle and thus the CPM was rejuvenated. In fact by the early 80s they were so strong, a battalion strength trekked down from north Perak down all the way to Johor. They were well armed and trekked in full view along the villages in the rural areas. MCG Pillay noted that the B/G of 6th brigade was aware but reluctant to engage the CTs. Mr Pillay called him a coward. This is in Mr Pillay's blog called Sangkanchil. It is remarkable that this large group of CTs were left to their own devices. Even their appearance in their old sanctuaries in Johor did not arouse any military response. Of course the CTs trekked all the way back to Thailand untouched. It is obvious to historians why this is so. After 1969, attacks on MAF in the jungles intensified resulting in high casualties , esp among the 2RMR, the resident battalion in KL in 1969. This unit was specially targeted for its role in 13May and suffered high double digit deaths in each tour of duty. In the end, it was removed from future tours of duty.
In 1987, the Thai southern command realised that the CPM was not their enemy and thus signed a peace treaty and the formation of peace villages in southern Thailand. This news shocked Mahathir and he felt that the CPM will now turn its eyes southwards. He reached out to Chin Peng to sign a similar deal but was snubbed. Dr M was forced to appeal to Deng Siow Peng and thus a deal was cut between the CPM and Malaysia in 1989 in Beijing.
Ref: MCG Pillay in Sangkanchil. Several chapters.
Chin Peng's Book. My side of history.
Chin Peng's Interview in Canberra. Malaysian representatives were present.
Asia Sentinel/ FEER.
Fong Chong Pick, the book.