The Malayan Communist Party as Recorded in the Comintern Files

CHAPTER V
THE MCP AND THE COMINTERN FROM 1932 TO 1934
I. 1932
Few documents on the activities of the MCP or its communications with the Comintern were kept
in the Comintern Files. This was because of the destruction of the Comintern networks by the
colonial police in Malaya, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
1. A letter in Russian from the CC of the Siamese Communist Party (SCP) stated that,
in 1932, after the anniversary of Lenin’s demise (21 January), the central
intelligence organization of the SCP was destroyed and its relations with the CC of
the MCP became estranged. 1
2. Among the files with Russian-language contents, 2 there was a file, “Resolutions,
Circulars and other materials relating to the Organization, Labour Movements,
MYuD (МЮД), and etc. of the CC of the MCP: 12 October 1932–25 December
1932”. 3 One of the materials was a Chinese-language circular of the MCP entitled
“Resolutions of the CC of the Party relating to the Aliens Ordinance and our work”.
The Aliens Ordinance was enforced in January 1933. Therefore, this circular would
have been issued in 1932. The Resolutions are summarized below:
The Aliens Ordinance was already read for the second time in the Straits
Settlements Legislative Council. Its main objective is to strictly restrict entry
of nationals not belonging to Britain and its protected territories. All toiling
and unemployed masses will be regarded as non-beneficial elements and
prohibited to enter Malaya. Such categories of masses already in Malaya as
well as all revolutionary elements will be arrested and deported at any time.
This Ordinance has the illusion that if all toiling masses sojourning in
Malaya, beginning with unemployed masses, are deported, the
unemployment crisis can be alleviated.
It intends to provoke emotional conflict among nationals (ethnic groups) and
to split, weaken their anti-Imperialist united front.
It intends to enforce economic exploitation of the masses and to oppress the
ever developing revolutionary movement.
79