19 Facts About Rashid Maidin

Rashid Maidin, sometimes given as Rashid Mahideen, was a senior leader of the Communist Party of Malaya.

Rashid Maidin is the eldest brother of 7 brothers and 1 sister.

Rashid Maidin received his early education at the Gunung Panjang Malay School and the Kampung Gunung Mesah Madrasah, which were both in Gopeng.

Rashid Maidin graduated at standard 5 in a Malay school.

However, due to poverty Rashid dropped out of school in 1929.

Rashid Maidin furthered his proficiency in the language via correspondence courses.

Later, Rashid Maidin returned to Gopeng and worked at a French-owned power station.

Rashid Maidin started a family with Hamidah binti Abdul Rashid, a village girl in 1938.

Rashid Maidin was active in the trade unions, which led him to join the CPM as the party's first Malay member.

Ever since his youth, Rashid Maidin was inspired by the story of Maharajalela's anti-colonial resistance against the British in Perak.

Rashid Maidin was renowned for being the first Malay to join the CPM.

The CPM, of which Rashid Maidin was one of their highest-ranking Malay leaders, organised armed resistance via the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army.

Rashid Maidin was entrusted by CPM leader Chin Peng to lead the MNLA's Malay-dominated 10th Regiment alongside Abdullah CD.

In early 1952, Rashid Maidin succeeded in freeing himself, and in late 1952, he met his companion, Abdullah CD, in Pahang.

Rashid Maidin was wounded in his leg during a battle against the British.

Rashid Maidin was a member of the CPM delegation at the Baling Talks, which were held in the town of Baling, Kedah.

Rashid Maidin was again a CPM delegate to the peace treaty.

However, a stipulation in the treaty signed disallowed former senior CPM leaders from returning to Malaysia; hence, Rashid Maidin settled for a quiet, post-guerilla life in Southern Thailand.

Rashid Maidin died on 1 September 2006 in Si Sakhon, Narathiwat, and was buried after the Friday prayers on the same day.