Police Sweep On Reds In Malaya

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1948, Page 5

Police Sweep On Reds In Malaya

Reqeived Munday, 8,25 p.m. - glNGAfPRN, June 21. More tjian 300 Chinese, Maiays and Indiaps suspeeted jn cpnnection with clie recent vyave of violence in Malaya, vvsre rounded up early this morning ip a federation-wide police sweep. The police were acting " under the emergency powers introduced last week to meet . tlie challenge Jo tlie Government. 1 They arrestod 113 in Selangor, 00 in Peuang, 00 in Perak, 50 in Johore and .'!() in Negrisembiian. Perak and Johore are the main trouble centres, The police raided the headquarters of the Malayan Communist party at Kuala Lumpur and all branches throughout" Malaya, the Malayan People's anti-Japanese army and Ex-comj-ades Association, the new Democ.ratic League and trade union premises, They found the Kuala Lumpur headquarters deserted and most of the other premises empty with flies removed. Many suspected Communists and terrorists are believed to have escaped. The police, under the new powers, rau detain any persons for one year on tlie authority of the Chief Secretary, without bringing any charge, Unknqwn gunmen last night shot dead a Chinese at Ayer Kuning near Taiping, North Malaya, while on his way home. The murder was carried out shortly before the police launched the faids. Selangor police arrested a Japanese ex-army doctor a mile qutside Kuala Lumpur. The doctor is believed to have been prepared to act as medical officer for the Communist guerrijlas in .the neighbourjng hills. The police also arrested hip Chinese wife and five Chinese, three of whom are alleged to be members of squads of a powerful secret society with Communist connec tions. The presenee of the Japanese doctor, who is 30 years of age, and a graduate of the University of Tokio, was unknown to the police. until the raid. The police seized 20 packing capes of Japanese medical equipment which were ready for moving to t'he hi]ls. The doctor said he " disappeared " from a Japanese camp shortly before his scheduled repatriation to Toifio. It is believed that the secret society ^proteoted" him by frightening any villagers from reporting his presenee. Members of the Johore Plantersj Corps have been sworn in ' as special constables and issued with pistols and sliotguns. They are organising trusted employees as estate guards. Army Auster aircraft are patrqlling the estates and jungle around Ipoh where troops are searching far buried arms and ammunition with mine detectors.