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Communist Party of Malaya

political party, Malaysia

Quick Summary

The Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) was a predominantly Chinese political party formed in 1930. During World War II, it was the main force behind the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA), a guerrilla movement that resisted the Japanese occupation of Malaya. After the war, the CPM's efforts to establish a communist Malaya led to a guerrilla insurgency against the British colonial government, sparking the Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960. Despite its significant role in the resistance, the CPM's ultimate goal of a communist Malaya was not achieved, and the party was largely suppressed.

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