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Malayan Road to Independence

and the formation of

Malaysia

Why Malaysia ?

Introduction

  • Decolonization
  • Nationalism
  • The Cold War
  • Political Reality in the era
  • After effects of Imperialism

Post World War 2

Post World War

Japan Surrenders

Japan surrenders on September 2, 1945

Power vacuum filled by the Malayan People's Anti Japanese Army (MPAJA) formed by the Malayan Communist Party for 14 days

  • Conduct reprisals on supposed Japanese collaborators

Japan Surrenders

British Military Administration took over to restore British Rule

MPAJA is reluctantly disbanded but Malayan Communist Party remains active

Malayan Union

  • The Malay Sultans has power over Islam and the Malay cultural practices
  • Citizenship is based on the jus soli principle
  • Ruled by Governor under the appointment of the British Crown

Motivation

The British Military Administration (BMA) is ill prepared and failed to do the following:

  • Restore the social-economical situation of Malaya
  • Cope with inflation after the war

An alternative political entity is needed

Strong opposition

Strong Opposition

  • Sir Harold Mac Michael forced the Malay Sultans to agree with the Malayan Union
  • Sultans lose political power
  • The jus soli principle is seen as a challenge to Malay rights over their country.
  • Malays challenge in different ways
  • Demonstrations
  • Holding Malay Congresses
  • United Malays National Organization (UMNO) is formed as result
  • Malayan Union disbanded in just 2 years (1946 - 1948)

Federation of Malaya

  • Stricter conditions for citizenship.
  • Led by a High Commissioner instead of a Governor.
  • Creation of Legislative Council in each of the Malay States.
  • Combination of the 9 Malay states and 2 straits settlements (similar to the Malayan Union).
  • Foreign Policy and defense under British control

Malayan Emergency

The Red Menace

  • Predominantly Chinese Malayan Communist Party active even after (MPAJA) is disbanded
  • Sungai Siput incident triggered the Malayan Emergency
  • British allow to detain, arrest and deport individuals without trail
  • Sir Henry Gurney Assassinated (1951)
  • Sir Gerald Templar imposed successful yet controversial measures (e.g. "New villages") to combat the communists
  • Drags on even after Malayan Independence

Road to independence

Road To Independence

  • In line with the British decolonization policy the Federation of Malaya 1955 general election was held.
  • Alliance Party lead by Tunku Abdul Rahman is victorious
  • Tunku then lead delegations to London to discuss about the independence
  • Reid Commission is formed to draft the Malayan constitution.
  • Achieved independence on 31 August 1957

Formation Of Malaysia

Malaysia

  • Proposed by Tunku Abdul Rahman, supported by the British
  • The Cobbold Mission find support of the Borneo population to the new federation.
  • United Nation Inquiry is demanded by Philippines and Indonesia which cause postponement of Malaysia
  • Malaysia formed on September 16, 1963

Motivations for forming Malaysia

Motivation

Racial Composition

Racial Composition

  • The inclusion of Singapore will destabilize the new federation's racial composition.
  • Singapore is mainly Chinese
  • Native population from Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei is seen as a counterbalance. (Rehman 1963)

Regional Security

Regional Security

  • Singapore is increasingly left leaning to communism
  • Clandestine Communist Organization (COO) in Sarawak is seen as a issue
  • Vietnam is in a war against communism
  • Thailand also see increase in communist activities

Provide Economical and Political Stability

  • Poverty, unemployment can make Communism appeal more to the citizens in the Borneo States
  • Malaya's economical commitments to the Borneo States is a good proof.
  • Singapore’s 5 year interest free loan towards the Borneo States after the creation of Malaysia is solid evidence to show Malaysia is a tool to stabilize these regions economically (Straits Times,1963)

Provide Economical and Political Stability

Philippines

  • Philippines President Macapagal do not think Malaysia is able to contain Communism in the region (Rehman 1963)
  • Considers Sabah as part of the Philippines

Indonesia

  • Malaysia is seen as a form of neo-colonialism
  • Using the argument that Malaysia still have British military bases around

(Kuala Lumpur, 1964)

  • Indonesia has been increasingly seen expansionist under Sukarno
  • A desire to form the previously abandoned Kesatuan Melayu Muda proposal to form Greater Indonesia (Cheah 1979)
  • Adopted the state of confrontation against Malaysia

Conclusion

  • Decolonization must not be done in haste
  • Imperialism shapes political and diplomatic decisions
  • Impact of international Issues on these events

Citations

(Michael Hill and Lian Kwen Fee) The Politics of Nation Building and Citizenship in Singapore

(Rehman,1963) THE MAKING OF MALAYSIA

(Kuala Lumpur : Dept. of Information, 1964) Indonesian Intentions to Malaysia

(Marc Opper, 2020) People's Wars in China, Malaya, and Vietnam

(Martin Rudner, 1968) The Organization of the British Military Administration in Malaya, 1946-48

(Cheah Boon Kheng,1979) Indonesia, Vol. 28, Oct. 1979 The Japanese Occupation of Malaya, 1941-45: Ibrahim Yaacob and the Struggle for Indonesia Raya

(Katharine McGregor, 2016) Cold War scripts: Comparing remembrance of the Malayan Emergency and the 1965 violence in Indonesia

(C. Paul Bradley, 1964) The Formation of Malaysia

(Koay Su Lyn, 2019) From friend to foe: Britain and the communist party of Malaya in the contest for the federation

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