Reminiscences of Insurrection: Malaysia's Battle against Terrorism 1960 (A Pictorial History)

In 1948, with the Second World War a recent and still painful memory, the countries of South East Asia and Europe were succumbing to a wave of communism, the twentieth century's secular religion which sought and found opportunities for expansions.

The domino theory came close to paralyzing democratic thought, until in 1960s, in Vietnam, even the greatest power in the world prove unable to thwart it. But in one country – Malaya – the domino stood firm. In 1948, an emergency was declared against the communist insurgency and it would take twelve long years to bring the emergency to an end. By then, Malaya had already gained independence from the British in August 1957, and the nation had embarked on a program to eradicate poverty within the country.

To make further progress Malaya could not stand alone. Malaya need an understanding with Britain and the peoples of the territories of Brunei, Sarawak, North Borneo and Singapore. It was in this context the proposal to form Malaysia emerged in 1961.

This coffee table book tells the unique story of how Malaysia fought and survived during period of great turmoil between 1961 and 1990, presented in words and pictorial form. From the formation on Malaysia in 1963 through the ousting of Singapore in1965 , reminiscences of insurrection explores the period of confrontation with Indonesia (1963-1966), the resurgence of the Communist Party Of Malaysia in the Second Emergency (1968-1989). The may 1969 riots, the siege of the Japanese Red Army of the AIA building in Kuala Lumpur in 1975, The Peace Accord with CPM in 1989 and the armed communist struggle in Sarawak (1966-1990).

Only when the last remnants of the North Kalimantan Communist Party finally laid down their arms in 1990 did 42 years of conflict com to an end. From both its triumphs and failures, and though the perseverance, patience, courage and sacrifice of so many, a new nation was forged and the seemingly inexorable march of communism was halted. Malaysia is the only country in the world that fought and triumphed against militant communist.