The Malayan Communist Party as Recorded in the Comintern Files

As to MCP’s delegates in Shanghai, according to Yong, in 1934, the MCP sent an important
official (CC member), Li Su-kong ( 李 书 光 ), to cement further ties with Comintern’s Shanghai
networks. 37 Li Shu Kong should be this Li Su-kong. And Kok Bun also might probably be Li Sukong.
Meanwhile, as quoted above (3.(3) and (4)), Bun Teck-chai (Li Chi-sin) went back to
Shanghai in 1934. Kok Bun might be Bun Teck-chai as well. We can discern here that as many as
nine persons successively stayed in Shanghai at that time, that is, Li Chi-sin, Koak Jin, Tuh Sung,
Chiu Sung (these three had already returned), Li Su-kong (= Kok Bun?), Iun Chin Sun, Lau Chu
An, Tan Sin Hoa and Oh (Li) Kok Cheng. In Yong’s research, secretary of the MCP in 1934 was
not identified. According to one of the former MCP leaders, Zhang Ming Jin ( 张 明 今 ), secretary of
this period was Liu Teng-chan ( 刘 登 乘 ). 38 If this is correct, Kok Kong might be Liu’s pseudonym.
But the above quoted record of the MCP (3.(3)) mentioned that since early 1934 acting secretary
was Chun Guang (Lim Choon Kwong). Possibility of Kok Kong (Guo Guang) being pseudonym of
Chun Guang might be higher.
Two questions arise here.
(1) British Consul-General’s another letter to the SMP dated 25 September 39 said;
“[MCP’s] original [letter] was in code numbers which have been decyphered, as
well as in secret ink, which has been developed”. Why were letters written in
number code deciphered?
According to eminent historian, Dr. Leon Comber, who was once affiliated with the
SB, “Chinese Commercial Code” was widely used among Chinese businessmen in
this period, especially for sending telegrams. Each Chinese character was given
specific number. Code number books, which showed common code number, were
easily obtainable. The MCP might have used this commercial code. 40 If so, in
hindsight, they were not cautious enough.
(2) Why were these letters not kept in the Comintern Files?
SMP officials said though these were delivered to the addressed places, no one appeared to claim
them. It meant the relevant persons of the Comintern as well as the MCP in Shanghai sensed the
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