Another underrated book that I picked up randomly. My reading pace was a little slow because I had to remember the names, the abbreviations of different parties and even Google several events to make my reading experience more meaningful. Although this is a alternative historical fiction, I feel blessed to have learned another side of Malaya's journey towards independence.
The Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) operated entirely as an underground, secret movement and was banned by the British administration, which viewed communism as the greatest threat to the colonial economy and security. Their ideology was to overthrow capitalism.
During the Japanese occupation, the structure of the Police Force was practically destroyed and paralysed. As a result, much of the wartime setting is dominated by the conflict between the MPAJA, the guerrilla military wing of the CPM, and the Japanese Kempeitai.
The bicycle became one of the most iconic modes of transport for the fighters. It allowed them to move silently from squatter settlements, rubber estates and the jungle while avoiding detection by both British and Japanese spies.
After the Japanese military surrendered on 15 August 1945, Malaya entered a critical period that lasted about 14 days. During this time, the MPAJA declared their intention to fight for an independent Malaya and establish a Malaysian Republic.
The character Ah Lin, known as Beloved Brother is portrayed as one of the CPM's top leaders. No one suspected that the man they admired and trusted so deeply was actually a triple agent, betraying the lives of his own comrades to the enemy for his own survival and profit. They followed him blindly for years without ever questioning who he really was.
The second half of the novel focuses on a full scale search for Ah Lin. I only realised afterwards that some parts of the story were inspired by real events, which made the novel even more fascinating. Whatever our political beliefs may be, terrorism should never be justified, especially when innocent lives become the price. I truly enjoyed how this novel encouraged me to learn more about the history behind its fiction.