My Side of History, by Chin Peng (as told to Ian Ward and Norma Miraflor); Media Masters , Singapore , 2003. ISBN 981-04-8693-6. Softback, 527 pages, many illustrations.  

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For those Commonwealth troops who served in the “Malayan Emergency,” that campaign remains fresh and certain mental “triggers” bring back instant and colourful memories of hot, sweaty patrols through jungles and swamps, interspersed with long hours of sentry duty. Then  the physical exertion or mind-sapping boredom was suddenly interrupted by instant danger as bursts of fire from Bren, Thompson or Owen guns, or the more deliberate bark of the No 5 rifle echoed along the track or clearing. One of the most names most likely to “trigger” such memories that of the leader of Malayan Communist Party (MCP) ─ Chin Peng ─ a man of mystery, who seemed to lead a charmed life flitting from one jungle base to another, always one step ahead of the pursuing patrols.  

This book is not strictly speaking by Chin Peng, but is “as told” to two Singapore-based writers, Ian Ward, a former Daily Telegraph journalist, and his wife, Norma Miraflor. Nor is it a detailed history of the Emergency as seen by Chin Peng and Malayan People’s Liberation Army (MPLA), but is what he describes as his “personal story.” Despite this, it contains a lot which will be of great interest to those who fought on the other side.

One of the most surprising of Chin Peng’s reflections on the Emergency is that he rates Lieutenant-General Sir Harold Briggs as a far greater factor in his defeat than the much better known General Sir Gerald Templar – the “Tiger of Malaya.” Malaya imported much of its rice and meat, which not surprisingly made it easy for the Government to control supplies through the “Briggs Plan,” a factor which Chin Peng and his cohorts had failed to take into account when setting out on their campaign. As a result, the MPLA became so desperate that they even considered ways of making rubber seeds edible (it proved impossible as the seeds contain an irremovable toxin). But, the constant patrols and harassment by the security forces played an equal part, as he admits: “Continual moving, fighting, withdrawing, regrouping and fighting again took its toll on unit morale as our guerrillas became physically exhausted.” Chin Peng’s description of the famous Baling talks from “the other side” is particularly interesting.

          Chin Peng admits to some mistakes. There was the attempt to switch to larger unit tactics involving company-sized formations – an abysmal failure. There was an anti-traitor hunt among his own ranks in which many men and women with impeccable records of service to the Party and the MPLA were tried, found guilty and instantly taken out and shot – in effect, doing the Security Forces’ work for them. This is blamed on the regrettable and misguided enthusiasm in subordinate units, according to Chin Peng. Then there was the slashing of rubber trees, which was totally counter-productive, since it alienated the tappers in estates and kampongs, who were the source of food and supplies through the Min Yuen organisation. Curiously, almost all of these errors seem to have been the fault of someone else.

          Perhaps I can best end this review by answering the questions which will occur to most potential readers. Is this book worth reading? Yes, it is. It is a long established tradition that politicians and generals on both winning and losing sides should write their memoirs; Chin Peng has waited longer than most to produce this book and he should be allowed to have his say. Is it of interest to former British solders who fought in the Emergency? Yes, it gives a lot of information, but do not expect a blow-by-blow account of individual actions (except for the assassination of Governor Sir Henry Gurney in 1951). Does Chin Peng’s voice deserve to be heard? Yes. He was just 23 years old on the outbreak of the Emergency in 1948 and remained the undisputed Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Malaya throughout the campaign and long afterwards. Is he fair, accurate and dispassionate in his description and analysis of events? Not always, but what politician’s or military commander’s memoirs ever are?

Colonel David Miller from the 1st Suffolk Malaya