Life of Chin Peng

  • Birth

    Born in Sitiawan, Perak
  • Joined CPM

    Accepted as probationary member of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM); put in charge of Communist members in Sitiawan.
  • World War II

    Communists’ offer of help accepted; joins the fight against the Japanese.
  • War ends

    Japanese surrenders.
  • Awarded but forced apology

    Awarded 2 war medals; boycotts tour of British bases; forced to sign letter of apology.
  • Emergency declared

    Three planters killed at Sungei Siput; Emergency declared; MCP declared illegal
  • Emergency end

    The Emergency is officially declared at an end. However, fighting still continues. Special Malaysian government troops going by the name "Senoi Praaq" prove to be a thorn in Chin Peng's side
  • Sign peace treaty

    A peace treaty is signed between the communists, Thailand and Malaysia. The long, hard war the British had preferred to term an Emergency was over.
  • Lost citizenship

    Chin Peng's lost his bid to return to Malaysia when the Court of Appeal demanded he showed identification papers to prove his Malayan citizenship.
  • Death

    Chin Peng died at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 88. According to the Bangkok Post, he was pronounced dead at 6.20am (GMT+8).