[2] After the departure of British colonial forces from the Federation of Malaya, the party fought in a third guerrilla campaign against both the Malaysian and Singaporean governments in an attempt to create a communist state in the region, before disbanding in 1989.

[3] Today, due to historical connotations surrounding the MCP, communism as an ideology remains a taboo political topic in both countries.

At that time, the Communist Youth League was formed in the Chinese settlement centers such as in Raub, Bentong, Mentakab and Manchis.

They have been taught the ideals of communism by some of their teachers and are usually encouraged to show opposition to capitalism, colonial oppression and western imperialism in their public meetings and discussion groups.

[8] Despite this setback, the MCP gained influence in the trade union movement and organised several strikes, most notably at the Batu Arang coal mine in 1935.

Anti-Japanese sentiment among Malayan Chinese gave the party a great opportunity to recruit members and raise funds under the banner of defence of China.

These fighters, scantily armed and equipped by the hard-pressed British, hurriedly dispersed and attempted to harass the occupying army.

Just before Singapore fell to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, the party began organising armed resistance in the state of Johore.

In March this force was dubbed the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and began sabotage and ambushes against the Japanese.

These reprisals, coupled with increasing economic hardship, caused large numbers of Malayan Chinese to flee the cities.

On 1 September 1942, acting on his information, the Japanese launched a dawn raid on a secret conference of more than 100 MCP and MPAJA leaders at the Batu Caves just north of Kuala Lumpur, killing most.

The loss of personnel forced the MPAJA to abandon its political commissar system, and the military commanders became the heads of the regiments.

[15] At the same time they launched reprisals against collaborators in the Malay police force and the civilian population[15] and began to forcibly raise funds.

The MCP adopted a 'National Front' policy, building a broad coalition to work for national independence within legal means.

Due to bad economic conditions, the BMA was immediately faced with strikes and demonstrations in which the Communists played an active part.

The police were given sweeping powers of arrest, and punishments including the death penalty could be administered without an ordinary trial.

Party militants regrouped in the jungle as the Malayan Peoples' Anti-British Army (MPABA), many ex-MPAJA personnel.

During this period the MCP also engaged in intimidation, including assassination, of civilians with the aim of coercing material aid, information, and silence.

On 1 February 1949 the MPABA changed its name to 'Malayan National Liberation Army' (MNLA) and The party began to campaign for a Peoples' Democratic Republic of Malaya, which included Singapore.

By the mid-1950s about 500,000 people (roughly 10% of Malaya's population) had been moved into compounds, termed 'New Villages', which were surrounded by high barbed wire fences and guarded by police.

Shop keepers had to keep strict account of all food sold, and canned goods had to be punctured at time of sale to necessitate their being used promptly.

[32] Faced with failure to establish any 'Liberated Areas', MCP renewed its work with trade unions and political parties.

Wylie, the Deputy Commissioner of the Federation police, met Chin Peng and another member of the MCP Central Executive Committee at Klian Intan.

On 24 December the MCP released a new 'Eight Point Program' which called for an end to the Emergency Regulations, a cessation of hostilities, reform of Malaya's political system, democratic rights, support for world peace, and attention to other matters including education, health, welfare, and industrial production.

The negotiations commenced in the Government English School (now as Sekolah Kebangsaan Tunku Putera) near Baling town in southeastern Kedah state, in northern Malaya, on 28 December 1955.

[citation needed] Chin Peng wanted legal recognition of the MCP and a return to the pre-conflict situation.

In April 1957, Hor Lung, a Politburo member in charge of the Southern operations of the MPLA since 1953, was bribed to surrender to the security forces.

From 1969 they launched a radio station in Hunan called "Suara Revolusi Malaya" (Voice of the Malayan Revolution), broadcasting to supporters in Malaysia and Singapore.

[42] Also in 1969, in response to the intensification of the Vietnam War and the Cultural Revolution in China, the party stepped up armed struggle.

On 2 December, at the town of Had Yai in Southern Thailand, Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin, and Abdullah CD met with representatives of the Malaysian and Thai governments.