RoS hauls up three societies behind Hat Yai Peace Accord memorial

The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has summoned three member organisations for questioning after the police found them involved in an event marking the 30th anniversary of the Hat Yai Peace Accord.

The Dec 1 event (photo) was held in Kajang to commemorate the agreement inked between the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and the governments of Malaysia and Thailand in 1989.

In a statement today, the RoS said police had identified nine organisations suspected of being behind the event, but only three were found to be registered.

The three organisations are Persatuan Persahabatan Abad Kedua Puluh Satu Malaysia, Persatuan Persahabatan Phoenix Malaysia and Persatuan Persahabatan Berpanjangan Malaysia.

“The RoS has taken action by issuing a notice under Section 66 of the Societies Act 1966 for the committee members of these organisations to present themselves to the registrar to give their statements with regards to their involvement in the memorial event,” it said.

The section empowers RoS to summon members of organisations. Refusal to comply could result in arrest and if convicted, a maximum RM1,000 fine.

As for the remaining six organisations not listed in the registrar’s records, the RoS warned that they were operating unlawfully.

“[...] They are classified as “societies which violate the law” under Section 41(1)(b) of the Societies Act and Section 43 of the same act, which states that anyone found being a member of an illegal society commits wrongdoing and if convicted, they can be issued a jail sentence.

“All are reminded that every registered organisation needs to conduct their activities and operations in accordance to their own constitution and to the Societies Act,” it said.

Under the act, those convicted of attending a meeting, being a member, or being a financial supporter of an unregistered and unlawful society are liable to a maximum three-year jail sentence or an RM5,000 fine, or both.

Those convicted of being an office-bearer of such a society are liable to a maximum five-year jail sentence or an RM15,000 fine, or both.

The Hat Yai agreement marked the end of the 21-year Communist Insurgency in Peninsular Malaysia.

Among those who attended the memorial event were former CPM members, Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu, PKR veteran Syed Husin Ali, PSM's Dr D Michael Jeyakumar and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor Abdul Rahman Embong.

Former CPM member Tan Yi Yu previously told Malaysiakini that the event was to commemorate the treaty and “restore the truth which has been distorted, and correct the wrong perception of the public to our history”.

"The struggle of CPM is a war that is anti-colonial and anti-imperialism, which fought for the country's independence, democracy, freedom and peace,” he also said.

Police are now probing the event under Section 505C of the Penal Code, and have recorded statements from Liu and Jeyakumar.

The section concerns “statements conducing to public mischief” and carries a maximum two years jail sentence or a fine, or both upon conviction.