exclusive

Immediately after the defeat of the Axis Power in World War Two, the Soviet Union and many communist or communist-led resistance movements, like the Malayan, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, French and Greek emerged from their illegal existence and activities with unprecedented popularity and prestige among their compatriots.

After all, the Soviet Union sacrificed 20 million lives in its resistance against the Nazis and the Chinese Communist Party also fought the Japanese with acknowledged valour, determination and heroism for eight years.

In Peninsula Malaya and Singapore, Communist Party of Malaya leaders and the Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) emerged from the jungles after the Japanese surrender to impose ad hoc law and order as well as to punish traitors and collaborators.

Period of anarchy

Before the Japanese surrender on Aug15, 1945 and the return of the British on Sept 5, there was a period of anarchy and power vacuum of about 20 days, now known by historians as The Interregnum.