Suriani Abdullah, The Story of a Female Communist Fighter Stabbed by the Japanese
A look back at one of the early struggles of Malayan women against colonialists, the Angkat Wanita Sedar (AWAS). Regardless of whether one considers the left or right-wing fighters, this female communist fighter should surely be held in the same regard as other independence fighters.
While it is acknowledged that the communist ideology is unacceptable to the Malay community, who were often victims of the situation, orangperak.com feels it is fair to share some of the good they contributed in the fight for independence against colonialists.
Continue reading to learn about Suriani Abdullah. This time, orangperak.com would like to introduce you to a Chinese woman named Suriani Abdullah, who was also a close friend of
Chin Peng
and the wife of Abdullah CD.
Suriani Abdullah was also called the Anti-Japanese Heroine by her comrades. For the loyal readers of orangperak.com, Suriani Abdullah's original name before converting to Islam was Eng Ming Ching, and she was born in 1924 in Sitiawan, Perak. She grew up and attended school with
Chin Peng
at Nan Hwa National-Type Secondary School, known as Nan Hwa High School.
In 1940, at the age of 16, Suriani Abdullah officially joined the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and focused her efforts on the welfare of laborers and women.
What is interesting to share with all loyal readers of orangperak.com is that she was arrested and tortured by the Japanese at the age of 21. Do not be surprised that while detained by the Japanese, she was also stabbed by Japanese soldiers. We are all aware of the cruelty of the Japanese in treating prisoners.
Suriani Abdullah's involvement in this wing of the Communist Party of Malaya introduced her to other Malay communist fighters such as
Rashid Maidin
, Shamsiah Fakeh, and Abdullah CD, who eventually became Suriani Abdullah's husband.
You should also know that Suriani Abdullah was considered a mother figure by the local community because she was so committed to listening to their grievances, while continuing to fight for the rights of laborers and the marginalized working class.
She also contributed much and fought alongside figures like Abdullah CD and
Rashid Maidin
until the Haadyai Peace Agreement was signed between the Government of Malaysia and the CPM. In 1999, Suriani Abdullah and her husband, Abdullah CD, performed the Hajj in Mecca after receiving a sponsorship offer from
the late Sultan Azlan (the 34th Sultan of Perak)
.
Suriani Abdullah passed away at her home in Kampung Chulaporn, Sukhirin district, Thailand, on March 21, 2013, at the age of 89. Although the communist ideology is unacceptable to the Malay community in our country, there are some things worth knowing as a lesson.
