THE PRIVATE CURRENCY NOTES OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF MALAYA
by
Saran Singh AMN, PNM, FRNS
The Communist
Party of Malaya (CPM) was established in Malaya
under the leadership of Lai Teok @ Wong Kim Geok in 1930. When the Japanese
captured Malaya and Singapore
by February 1942, the CPM set up the Malayan Peoples Anti Japanese Army ( MPAJA
). After the Japanese surrender on 15th August 1945, the Communist
Party of Malaya was virtually in control of Malaya
for about three weeks until the British took full administrative control in
September 1945. The MPAJA officially disbanded on 1st December 1945,
but in name only. Its’ members were by then involving themselves in the
political scene in Malaya.
In 1947, Chin
Peng @ Ong Boon Hua took over the control of the Communist Party of Malaya
(CPM) as it’s Secretary-General. He commenced terrorist activities against the
British so as to drive them out of Malaya and
thus establish communist rule in the country. This led to the declaration of
Emergency in Malaya on 16th June 1948 by Sir Edward Gent, the
British High Commissioner to Malaya. The
Communist Party of Malaya was banned and thus commenced 12 years of bitter
jungle warfare. The Baling peace talks in Kedah held on 28/29th
December 1955 between Chin Peng, Chen Tien and Rashid Maidin of the CPM and
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj, Tan Cheng Lock and David Marshall from the
Government were a failure. Eventually, the Government’s efforts in the heart
and minds campaign and the resettlement of villages in sensitive areas
programme, won over the people and the communists were driven back into the
jungle.
On 31st
July 1960, the Malaya Emergency period came to an end and the remnants of the
Communist Party of Malaya members went across the border to Southern Thailand
where they continued to pose a threat to Malaya.
Finally on 2nd
December 1989, the Communist Party of Malaya leaders signed a peace agreement
with the Government of Malaysia at Haadyai in Southern
Thailand. The CPM was represented by Chin Peng (Secretary-General),
Abdullah C.D. (Chairman) and Rashid Maidin (Central Committee Member). The
Malaysian Government was represented by Dato Haji Wan Sidek bin Haji Wan Abdul
Rahman (Secretary General, Ministry of Home Affairs), General Tan Sri Hashim
bin Mohd Ali (Chief of Defence Forces, Malaysia) and Tan Sri Mohd Haniff bin
Omar (Inspector General, Royal Malaysian Police). This peace agreement was
witnessed by the representatives of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand.
By this agreement and consistent with their objective for peace, the Communist Party
of Malaya agreed to cease all armed activities, disband all its armed units,
destroy all arms, ammunition, explosives and booby traps. On its part, the
Malaysian government agreed to allow the members of the CPM of Malaysian origin
to settle in Malaysia and
assist them to start their peaceful life afresh in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.
Private notes
In 1955, the North
Johor Regional Committee ( NJRC ) of the Communist Party of Malaya issued
private notes for use in areas under their control. These notes are believed to
have been issued in denominations of 5 Cents, 10 Cents, 50 Cents, One Dollar
and Five Dollars. These private notes were printed entirely in Chinese,
translated e.g. “Yit Chiao ( 10 Cents ) or Wu Chiao ( 50 Cents ). Lou Thung Kin
(Legal Tender), Ma-loy-ya Kung Ch’an Tong Jou Pei Ti Wei Hui Fat (Malayan
Communist Party North Johore Regional Committee issue). Signed by Mah Lit Min,
Choy Ching (Treasurer)”. The bust of Lenin with the star and sickle above. The
Serial Number and the year date “ 1955 ” below. The size of the 5 Cents is 90
mm x 65 mm. These noted were printed in Black on white paper by a local printer
(name unknown). All these notes are extremely rare.
Reference:
“Paper Money of the 20th Century” Volume I Appendix ix Pages A8 – A9
Published by the
International Bank Note Society,
U.S.A. ( 1973 )
(Approval to
print this article was obtained from Polis Diraja Malaysia, Bukit Aman, Kuala
Lumpur, vide their letter reference KPN 73 dated 19th September
1991).
(This article
was originally published in the Malaysia Numismatic Society Bulletin, Volume 22
No.10, Sept/Oct 1991)
