Once, the very mention of his 'nom de guerre' had struck fear and reverence in the hearts of many. Now, Chin Peng is an 85-year-old grandfather, yearning to return to his homeland.

Hailing from Perak's quiet hamlet of Sitiawan, the once rifle-bearing rebel, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, wants to visit the graves of his parents and reunite with his family.

But the Malaysian government is unrelenting in rejecting his wish, its leaders proclaim that the secretary-general of the disbanded Communist Party of Malaya cannot be forgiven for its atrocities.

Reported by Jiwi Kathaiah & Maran Perianen
Produced by Maran Perianen