A memorial in Malaysia has sparked controversy after a stone tablet was found to bear the portrait and poetry of Mao Zedong, leading to accusations of promoting communism by local residents. The authorities were alerted, and an investigation has been launched, with potential penalties of up to two years of imprisonment, a fine, or both if found guilty. The exhibit in question has since been removed after the report.
Local Chinese YouTubers have criticized the responsible party for knowingly displaying Mao Zedong’s portrait and poetry in a country where communism is not allowed. The incident took place at the Fugui Mountain Calligraphy Memorial in Selangor, Malaysia, a privately-operated scenic cemetery.
According to reports from local media such as Malaysian National News Agency and Sin Chew Daily, on February 18, the district police chief Naazron Abdul Yusof stated that a 40-year-old woman had reported the appearance of Mao Zedong’s portrait and communist ideology-related poetry on a stone tablet in the Fugui Mountain Calligraphy Memorial. The police are conducting a thorough investigation, including reviewing a viral 2-minute 12-second video circulating on TikTok discussing the incident.
The police are investigating the case under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for disrupting public harmony. Three individuals have provided statements to the authorities so far.
The Malaysian Civil Service Center for Quitting the Party is reported to have initiated the complaint. The center confirmed the report on Facebook, citing the poem “Snow in the Park” written by Mao Zedong on the stone tablet. They emphasized that promoting communism in Malaysia is unacceptable and reported the matter to the police on February 16.
The founder of the Fugui Group, Kuang Hanguang, stated to the media that the calligraphy stone tablet featuring Mao Zedong is a small part of the Fugui Mountain Calligraphy Memorial, primarily meant to showcase the beauty of calligraphy by historical figures. Kuang expressed regret over the controversy, describing it as a sensationalized issue.
Kuang mentioned that the calligraphy has been on display for over 10 years but reassured that the contentious Mao Zedong stone tablet has already been removed from the memorial.
Various local media outlets reported on the incident, including Malaysian National News Agency, Sin Chew Daily, Today’s Malaysia, China Press, Nanyang.com, and Hotspot, though China Press later retracted its coverage.
On February 20, Malaysian Chinese YouTuber Louis produced a commentary episode on the matter. He criticized the actions of the Fugui Mountain Calligraphy Memorial, accusing them of attempting to promote communism in Malaysia, which is illegal. He questioned the motives of the Malaysian Civil Service Center for Quitting the Party and suggested it was related to efforts to help Chinese people renounce the Communist Party.
Louis further remarked on the difficulties of quitting the Communist Party and speculated on the motivations behind such actions, urging awareness of the Communist Party’s wrongdoings among Malaysians and globally. He also commented on Kuang Hanguang’s justification, questioning why Mao Zedong’s imagery was chosen despite the known controversies associated with him.
Louis humorously suggested that those fond of Mao Zedong’s portrait could conduct business in China where such actions are permissible, highlighting the differing legal stances of countries. He pointed out the strict measures taken against Mao Zedong-related items by law enforcement authorities and movie bans associated with communist themes, indicating tacit disapproval even from the Chinese embassy.
In Malaysia, any promotion of communist ideology is strictly prohibited, with previous incidents involving similar actions gaining attention. For instance, a restaurant in Malaysia was shut down last December for allegedly propagating communism by using utensils bearing Mao Zedong’s image and slogans.
The image of Mao Zedong stems from the personal worship culture fostered during the Cultural Revolution in China from 1966 to 1976. The Cultural Revolution, known as a decade of turmoil, led to widespread destruction of government systems and intense social upheaval, resulting in an estimated 2 to 20 million non-natural deaths based on various scholarly studies.
During the Cold War, China exported revolution to Malaysia, leading to the presence of the Malayan Communist Party locally. However, following Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, China gradually withdrew support for communist movements in neighboring countries, with these organizations surrendering to the respective governments. A 1989 reconciliation agreement mandated that the Malayan Communist Party ceases communist propagation activities post-surrender.
On October 23, 2019, the Malaysian Ministry of Internal Affairs declared Chinese comic books on the “Belt and Road Initiative” as forbidden due to promoting communism and socialism, disseminating misleading information, and sympathizing with communist struggles. The multilingual versions of the comics were consequently banned.
Due to historical associations with the Malayan Communist Party, Malaysian Chinese have faced suppression, fostering a cautious attitude toward communist ideologies. The sensitivity towards communism in Malaysia can be attributed to the large Chinese population and the country’s tumultuous history during communist insurgencies in the past, leading to vigilance from both the public and authorities.
Analyses suggest that Malaysia’s historical encounters with communist activities during the Cold War period and its significant Chinese community contribute to the high sensitivity towards any communist-related matters. Recent efforts by the Chinese government to influence overseas nationals have heightened such sensitivities once again.