TERRORISM IN MALAYA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 5

TERRORISM IN MALAYA

Village Attacked By Communists POLICE DESTROY REBEL CAMP (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SINGAPORE, July 14. The Chinese population of the village of Ulu Yam, 50 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, fled last night when Chinese Communist terrorists attacked the village. The terrorists killed three Chinese males and one Chinese woman: and seriously wounded two other villagers, before they took flight. Police and military attacked a nest of armed Chinese Communists two miles north-west of Siputeh, north of Ipoh. Three Communists were killed and one wounded. At Tanjong, southwest of Ipoh, terrorists killed a proKuomintang Chinese shopkeeper. A partly-built camp for 200 terrorists only six miles north of Kuala Lumpur was destroyed by police and military. Last Friday it was reported that a large force of insurgents was assembling for an attack on Kuala Lumpur. More murder, arson, and rape were reported throughout Malaya yesterday sfter the daringly successful Communist guerrilla attack on the coal-mining town of Batu Arang. Troops found no trace of the large raiding party, and there was much public criticism of the military for not having guarded the mine. A correspondent in a letter to the “Straits Times” said that the recent utterances of Major-General C. H. Boucher, General Officer Commanding in Malaya, enunciating the military principles he was following, had “a ring reminiscent of the military statements of 1941. We are hearing the same old words. Is it to be the same old tune as well?” he asked. Armed Chinese terrorists on Monday stabbed to death a Chinese farmer at Sungei Sian, in- Johore. Chinese terrorists shot dead a Chinese contractor on an estate in the Mentakab area lof Pahang. Three rubber smokehouses were burned down.

Looting and rape are reported in the Kedah state. The Perak and Selangor states reported that parties of armed Chinese had been sighted, and sporadic gunfire heard. The Singapore Legislative Council yesterday passed the Emergency Regulations Bill, which in effect enables the Governor-in-Council to rule by decree and confers sweeping powers on the police.

ELECTION SOUGHT IN TASMANIA

UPPER HOUSE MOVE TO AMEND SUPPLY BILL (Rec. 7 p.m.) HOBART, July 14. The Tasmanian Parliamentary deadlock, from which an early election is expected, was prolonged last night when the Lower House disagreed with the request of the Legislative Council for an amendment of the Supply Bill so as to grant funds for two months on condition that an immediate election is held. The Council adjourned until to-day, although the Government expected that it would continue sitting until the Assembly dealt with its request. The bill will now return to the Council, after which the Labour Premier (Mr R. Cosgfove) is likely to seek a dissolution and submit another bill guaranteeing supply over the election period.

PRICE CONTROL IN VICTORIA

(Rec. 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 14. Victoria’s new price control would follow very closely the present Commonwealth regulations and would allow for decontrol as rapidly as possible, said the Victorian AttorneyGeneral when he introduced the Prices Regulation Bill in the Legislative Assembly. He added that it was proposed to take over the Commonwealth administration of price control as a going concern. The policy would be to throw the onus of control upon the business community and to establish a system of self-control with the fullest protection for consumer interests. Advisory committees would be appointed. The duration of the act would be six months, after which it could be extended. BANNING OF FILMS IN VICTORIA MELBOURNE, July 14. The police ejected four women and a man from the Victorian Legislative Assembly after pamphlets had fluttered from the Strangers’ Gallery into the chamber. The Government was introducing legislation to ban subversive films. Attendants recovered some of the pamphlets, which were headed: “Open Letter to Hollway. This is a Free Country—Or Is It?” The pamphlets claimed that the Government had banned the children’s cartoon “Christmas Tree,” simply because it was made in the Soviet Union. They were signed on behalf of the Realist Film Unit of Melbourne.