Who is The Plen, who met Lee Kuan Yew in secret negotiations?
The MCP has long faded from the public’s interest. For those still keen to read up, here are the books:
1) The Origins of Malayan Communism by CF Yong, published 1997.
2) The Politics of the Malayan Communist Party from 1930 to 1948 by David Lockwood, published in 2024.
This is the most recent of the 4 books here. Lockwood reexamined the case for treachery leveled against Lai Teck. He is not impressed with the allegations that Lai Teck was a triple agent for the British, French, and Japanese when he was the head of the MCP.
3) Red Star over Malaya by Cheah Boon Kheng, revised 2012, examines the interracial relations between Malays and Chinese from 1941 to 1946. He tells a tale of brutality between them during that period, committed by gangs.
4) In Pursuit of Mountain Rats by Anthony Short, published in 1975. This is on the Emergency in Malaya.
LWH, Reunion dinner day, Eve of Chinese New Year.
17 Feb 2026