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Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsASMZ/2017

Section 5: Nationalism And Constitutional DevelopmentsChapter 11:: Constitutional Developments In Malaya 1946 –

48THE GROWTH OF NATIONALISM

WHY WAS NATIONALISM GROWING IN MALAYA?1. The Role of the Sultans

The British realised the degree of loyalty that the Malay people had for their sultans. Consequently, it was important that the Sultans were seen to be playing a major part in

government. Although most political and administrative decisions decisions were made by the

British, the Sultans still had control of religious affairs. This role, together with the elaborate ceremony which accompanied any Sultan’s visit

to an official function helped to convince the Malayan people that the Sultans still ruled Malaya.

2. Discontented Malays

They were concerned about the growing number of Chinese and Indians in Malaya. The Chinese and Indians wanted to obtain equal citizenship with the native Malays.

3. The formation of the Kesatuan Melayu Muda

The members of the KMM were students from Azhar University in Egypt.

They called for the removal of non-Islamic foreign influence from Malaya and a union with Indonesia.

In 1938, Ibrahim Yaacob became its President with the party having 60 members.

During the Second World War, Ibrahim became important in two Japanese sponsored movements, Pembela Tanah Ayer (PETA) and Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Semenanjong (KRIS).

Wanted to join Indonesia with Malaya

These movements supported the idea of gaining independence for Malaya by a revolution and union with Indonesia.

1. Opposition to British domination: English educated Malays held administrative positions and they opposed British

domination. The depression of the 1920s showed the Malays how economic control of Malaya, and

in particular Singapore, had been won by the Chinese and Indians. It was this group that was responsible for the numerous newspaper articles and

periodicals on Malayan rights which appeared in the 1930s.2. Establishment of Malayan associations and clubs: Many Malayan associations and clubs were created to discuss

ways to protect and improve the position of the native Malays. In 1939, these associations held a national conference in Kuala

Limpur, with a second conference being held the next year.

Ibrahim Yaacob

3. The Kaum Muda: The Kaum Muda was a radically pro-Islamic movement. Its influence was short-term and largely confined to the Straits

Settlements, but it did cause many Malays to consider their position in relation to the non-Islamic races of Malaya.

The importance of the Second World War

The Japanese had preached Asian unity and the expulsion of the Europeans. They had been defeated, but their propaganda had stirred up nationalist feelings

across the continent.

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The Formation of the Malayan Union

During the Second World War, Britain set up the Malayan Planning Unit to draw up plans for how Malaya should be governed after the war.

It proposed that Singapore should remain separate but that the other states of Malaya should be combined in one single administrative unit.

The British government accepted these proposals and appointed Sir Harold MacMicheal to discuss them with the Sultans.

Once their signatures had been obtained, the government published the Malayan Union Constitution on 22 January 1946.

Its main proposals were:1. Singapore was to become a separate British colony with its own Governor.2. The two Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca were to join the nine Malay

states to form the Malayan Union. They would be controlled by a Governor, who was to rule with the help of an Executive Council and a Legislative Council.

3. The Governor would be responsible to a new Governor-General of Singapore, the Malayan Union and the Borneo territories.

4. The individual State Councils were to be retained to deal with local government, but were to come under the direct control of the central government.

5. The Sultans were to keep authority over religious matters but would lose all other political powers.

6. Citizenship would no longer be restricted to natives. It was now open to:a) Any person born in the Malayan Union or Singapore before or after the setting

up of the Union.b) Anyone aged 18 or over who had lived in the Union or Singapore for at least

10 out of 15 years after 15 February 1942.c) Any person born outside the Union whose father was a citizen.d) Any person who had lived in the Union or Singapore for at least 5 out of 8

years after applying their citizenship – with good character, could speak English or Malay and took an oath of allegieance to the Union and promised to live there or in Singapore.

7. Citizenship of the Malayan Union meant equal rights, regardless of race or religion. The constitution also allowed citizens to hold dual nationality with another country.

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Why did Britain propose these changes?

1. To ensure future political stability By 1946, Britain was sympathetic to the idea of its colonies being self-

governing but that did not mean that they supported Malayan nationalism. To the British, future arrangements for Malayan independence had to reflect

the contribution that the immigrant races had made. Their importance to the economic life of Malaya and Singapore and their

part in creating prosperity should be rewarded by setting up a multicultural society in which all citizens had equal rights.

This would involve ending the special privileges of the native Malays.

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2. To protect their own interests: The British greatly invested in Malaya and Singapore. They wanted the most efficicent system of government to be introduced before

independence came. A union of the Federated and the Unfederated Malay States with Malacca and

Penang would seem to achieve this. A form centralised government went against earlier moves for decentralisation, but it

was more likely to bring efficiency and better prospects of economic growth.

3. To make Malaya stronger: The British wanted Malaya to be able to defend itself against internal opponents and

outside powers. The new Malayan Union offered the best chance of creating a strong country.

4. To gain Chinese support: There was a political need to give rights to the Chinese in view of British assumption

that a strong, nationalistic Kuomintang China would emerge from the ashes of war.

Why did the Sultans accept the changes

The Sultans were in a difficult position. During the Japanese Occupation, the Sultans were almost deposed. In the face of such implied threats, they really had little choice but to agree to

the proposals.

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Reasons for opposition to the Malayan Union

The British Government’s proposals for the establishment of a Malayan Union played an important part in raining political consciousness of Malaya and encouraging support for Malayan nationalism.

This was the result not only of the proposals but also the way they were introduced.1. Lack of consultation over the proposals:

The Sultans were given no time to discuss the proposals amongst themselves or take advice from their State Councils.

The Malay people were not consulted. The British Government proposed the changes on 10 October 1945 and forcibly

obtained the Sultan’s agreement and left Malaya by mid January 1946. On 1st April 1946, the Malayan Union was officially proclaimed.

2. The proposals for more liberal citizenship: The Malays felt that the immigrants did not give their first loyalty to Malaya. They felt that through equal citizenship, Malay privileges and special rights

would be lost. If citizenships were granted under the terms of the Union, many Chinese would

outnumber the Malays. This would make Malaya to be a country politically dominated by non-Malays. They felt that this was taking away the Sultans’ powers and turn their country

into a British colony dominated by non-Malays.

3. Upper class Malays: Before the formation of the Union, they had been the group from which civil

servants had been recruited. If citizenship were opened to non-Malays, then they too would be in

competition to these posts.

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The Formation of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)

1. The Malays began campaigning against the Union as soon as they heard of the proposals. On 15 December 1945, 10000 Malays demonstrated outside the Sultan’s Palace in Kelantan when MacMicheal paid the Sultan a visit.

2. On January 1946, Dato Onn bin Jafaar formed the Peninsula Malay Movement of Johor. He called together a Congress of 41 Malay organisations to organise united opposition to the proposals. At this conference, the United Malays National Organisation was formed with Dato Onn as its first President.

Protestors outside the Sultan’s Palace

The work of UMNO

UMNO had a policy of non-cooperation against the introduction of the British proposals.1. UMNO leaders organised opposition to the Union by

educating the public. They travelled through Malaya pointing out

that the proposals could not be implemented because the Malays had not been consulted on them.

They received dull support from all sections of the Malayan society.

2. Demonstrations and rallies were organised against the proposals and for one week, UMNO leaders wore white bands around their heads as a sign of protest.

3. As a request from UMNO, the Sultans refused to attend the installation of the new Governor, Edward Gent and the new Governor General, Sir Malcolm MacDonald.

UMNO flag

Rallies by UMNO4. UMNO began preparing an alternative constitution to the one proposed by the

British. This would involve restoring the power of the Sultans and restricting citizenship.The reaction of the British

The British had two alternatives:1. Ignore:

But this would destroy any chance of cooperation and would invite violent action.

They were also concerned that if protests continued, then more extreme groups like the Malayan Communist Party would gain support.

2. To build a strong central government in Malaya. They want to extend citizen rights to

non-Malays but they were disappointed to learn that Chinese and Indians had joined the Malayan Communist Party and were complaining that the British did not do enough.

The British therefore, gave in to Malay protests.

The Formation of the Federation of Malaya

In July 1946, a Working Committee comprising representatives from the British Government, the Sultans and UMNO was set up to prepare new proposls.

The Working Committee reached an agreement by July 1947 and its proposals for a Federation of Malaya were put into effect on 1 February 1948.

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The Federation Agreement of 1948

1. Singapore was to remain a separate British Colony.2. A Federation of Malaya was to be set up comprising nine Malay states, plus Penang

and Malacca.3. The Federal Government was to deal with defence, foreign affairs, law and order,

commerce, communications and finance.4. The Sultans had their pre-war powers restored. They ruled with the help of an

Executive Council and Legislative Council. All bills passed by the State Legislative Council had to be ratified by the Sultan but he had the authority to make effective any bill the Council failed to pass.

5. Ultimate authority was to be in the hands of the British High Commissioner . He was to be assisted by an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. The High Commissioner was President of the Legislative Council and could veto any bill or put into effect a bill not passed by it.

6. The High Commissioner agreed to attend a conference of rulers at least three times a year and to consult the rulers on immigration policy.

7. Strict regulations were laid down about the composition of the Legislative Council. It was to have 75 members, 50 of whom were unofficial members nominated by the High Commisioner. There was one official member from each Malay State, one each from Penang and Malacca, plus 14 more. The unofficial members were made up of 22 Malays, 14 Chinese, 7 Europeans, 5 Indians, 1 Ceylonese and 1 Eurasian.

8. All citizens had to have an adequate knowledge of Malay or English and be of good character. The applicant also had to agree to reside permanently in the Federation and swear an oath of allegiance to it. Citizenship was then divided into those who received it automatically and those who were qualified to apply for it.

9. Automatic qualification went to those were:a) Subjects of the Sultan of any state.b) British subjects born in Penang or Malacca and had lived continously in the

Federation for 15 years.c) Any British subject born in the Federation whose fathers had been born there, or

lived there for 15 years.d) Any person born in the Federation whose two parents had been born in and

lived continously in the Federation for at least 15 years.10. Those allowed to apply for membership were:

a) Anyone who was born in the Federation and had lived there for at least 8 of the 12 years immediately preceding the application.

b) Anyone who had lived in the Federation for at least 15 years of the 20 years immediately preceding the application.

c) Those born in Singapore were not eligible to become citizens of the Federation.

The Federation Agreement

1948

Singapore: Separate colony

Malaya: 9 states + Penang +

Malacca

Federal Government

controlled social and economic

conditions

Sultans had their pre-war powers

restoredHigh Commissioner

had the highest power

Had to attend

conference of rulers

Must discuss immigration

Citizenship:

Must be loyal to Malaya

Automatic citizenship for those

who've lived in Malaya for

15 years

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Non-Malay Opposition to the Federation

The non-Malay population had generally been quite content with the proposals for the formation of the Malayan Union.

Not surprisingly, they were concerned when Britain began negotiations with UMNO to amend those proposals.

They began to take steps to protect their own interests.

TAN CHENG LOCK

1. On 8th July 1946, Tan Cheng Lock and leaders of other communities sent a telegram to London asking the British not to make changes to the proposals without consulting all sections of Malayan society.

2. But by the time the non-Malay Consultative Committee was formed in December 1946, the alternative proposals had already been agreed on. All that the non-Malays could do was to comment on them.

PMCJA

1. On 22 December 1946, the Pan-Malayan Council of Joint Action (PMCJA) was formed. It was a collection of different Malayan political organisations. Amongst them were the Malayan Democratic Union, the Malay People’s Party, the Malay Nationalist Party and the Pan-Malay Congress. Its chairman was to be Tan Cheng Lock.

2. PMCJA believed that constitutional reform should produce:a) A United Malaya including Singapore.b) A central government for Malaya that was elected by the people of

Malaya.c) Equal citizen’s rights for all people who made Malaya their permanent

home. PMCJA saw no reason to divide the population into Malays and non-Malays.

PUTERA

1. The more left wing party known as Pusat Tenaga Rakyat (PUTERA) was formed

2. This organisation agreed with the basic aims of PMCJA but also wanted the Malay language to become the national language of Malaya and for Britian to give up its control of Malayan defence and foreign policy.

3. It called on the British government to stop negotiations with UMNO and to recognise PUTERA as representing real Malay opinion.

Further protests

1. In March 1947, the non-Malay Consultative Committee submitted its report to the colonial office in London. Of the 168 clauses in the Federation Proposal, changes were proposed to only 11 clauses.

2. The Chinese members of the Committee wrote their own minority report, but in reality the committee was broadly in agreement with the proposals for a Federation of Malaya.

3. The non-Malay community showed its opposition to the proposals by supporting a call from Tan Cheng Lock and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for a day of protest across Malaya and strikes on 20 October 1947.

4. There was widespread disruption to economic life across Malaya except in Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu where there was less opposition to the proposals as the non-Malay population in these areas was relatively small.

5. The day of protest was a great success, but it failed to change the minds of the British. On 1st February 1948, the Malayan Union became the Federation of Malaya.

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