page_title: Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army
hierarchical_section_title: Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army
caption_attribution_description: English: The British Reoccupation of Malaya March past of the 4th Regiment of Guerillas of the Malay Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army during their disbandment ceremony at Johore Bharu. At this march past the salute was taken by Brigadier J J McCully DSO. Also present were Colonel N C Hay (Senior Civil Affairs Officer) and Mr Chen Tian (Commandant of the 4th Regiment of Guerillas).
context_page_description: The Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army was a paramilitary group that was active during the Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1942 to 1945. Composed mainly of ethnic Chinese guerrilla fighters, the MPAJA was the biggest anti-Japanese resistance group in Malaya. Founded on 18 December 1941 during the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the MPAJA was conceived as a part of a combined effort by the Malayan Communist Party, British colonial government, and various anti-Japanese groups to resist the Japanese occupation of Malayan territory. Although the MPAJA and the MCP were officially different organisations, many saw the MPAJA as a de facto armed wing of the MCP due to its leadership being staffed by mostly ethnic Chinese communists. Many of the ex-guerrillas of the MPAJA would later join the MCP in its open conflict with the BMA during the Malayan Emergency.
context_section_description: The Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (Chinese: 马来亚人民抗日军; abbreviated MPAJA) was a paramilitary group that was active during the Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1942 to 1945. Composed mainly of ethnic Chinese guerrilla fighters, the MPAJA was the biggest anti-Japanese resistance group in Malaya. Founded on 18 December 1941 during the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the MPAJA was conceived as a part of a combined effort by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), British colonial government, and various anti-Japanese groups to resist the Japanese occupation of Malayan territory. Although the MPAJA and the MCP were officially different organisations, many saw the MPAJA as a de facto armed wing of the MCP due to its leadership being staffed by mostly ethnic Chinese communists.  Many of the ex-guerrillas of the MPAJA would later join the MCP in its open conflict with the BMA during the Malayan Emergency.
caption: MPAJA guerrillas marching through the streets of Johor Bahru during their disbandment ceremony in December 1945.
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