FEDERATION OF MALAYA (PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU)

1. FEDERATION OF MALAYA (PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU)

2. 1 Feb 1948 – British government replaces the • Malayan Union with the Federation of • Malaya. • The new constitution includes: • - Protection for the powers of • Malay rulers. • - More stringent conditions for citizenship for • non-Malays. • - Special rights for the Malays. • The F.O.M comprised nine Malay states together with • Penang Island and Malacca. Singapore was excluded • but still remained a British colony.

3. The move towards Independence • Problems of unity - variety of origin, culture, language, and religion before the country could be given independence. • 2. The British government tried to overcome the problems through the educational system. • 3. The Barnes Report suggested - same medium of instruction in the schools, English at secondary level and Malay at the primary.

4. 4. The Fenn-Wu Report suggested – Chinese school should be continued. 5. The Malays wanted Malay to be the medium of instruction at all level. 6. 1949 – British government set up an inter-Ethnic Relations Committee for open discussions of racial problems.

5. MEMBER SYSTEM April 1951– the British Government introduced the Member system in the Federal Legislative council to provide local people the opportunity to be involved in the administrative system.

6. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Organisation/Ideology ) UMNO National United Malay Organisation (1946). Founded by Dato’ Onn Jaafar Opposed the Malayan Union and united the Malays to fight for independence.

7. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence MCA Malayan Chinese Association (1949) Founded by Tan Cheng Lock Protected the interest of the Chinese, and cooperated with other communities to achieve independence.

8. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence MIC • Malayan Indian Congress (1947) • Founded by John Thivy • Took care of the interest of the Indians and fought for independence with the other communities.

9. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Radical/Socialist) MCP(PKM) Malayan Communists Party (1930) Oldest political party in Malaya Wanted to achieve independence through revolution, and to establish the Communist Republic of Malaya.

10. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Radical/Socialist) AWAS Angkatan Wanita Sedar (1946) Founded by Shamsiah Fakeh The struggle for independence was influenced by the nationalist struggle in Indonesia.

11. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Radical/Socialist) API Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (1946) Founded by Ahmad Boestamam Its main struggle was independence with Indonesia to form Melayu Raya.

12. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence PKMM • National Malay Party of Malaya • Founded by Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmi PETA • Ikatan Pemuda Tanah Air (1947)

13. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Islam) PAS • Islamic Party of Malaya (1951) • Founded by Ahmad Fuad Hassan • Its cause – to set up an Islamic government • Fought for Islam as the official religion and Malay as the official language.

14. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Islam) HISBUL MUSLIMIN Hizabul Muslimin (1948) Founded by Haji Abu Bakar Aim to establish an Islamic government in Malaya.

15. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Non-communal) IMP Independent Malayan Party (1951) Founded by Dato’ Onn Jaafar after leaving UMNO. Fought for independence for 10 years.

16. Political Parties and the Struggle for Independence (Non-communal) PARTI NEGARA National Party (1954) Founded by Dato’ Onn after IMP was dissolved in 1953 for lack of support Fought for independence for 5 years.

17. 2.6 NEGOTIATIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE

18. Events • February 1956 • Tunku Abdul Rahman as the Chief Minister led a team to London to negotiate for Malaya’s independence. • The team consisted of: • 4 Malay rulers • Alliance (perikatan)

19. 4 Malay rulers Datuk Panglima Gantang DAto’ Ahmad Kamil Abdul Aziz Majid Dato’ Mohd Seth

20. Alliance Tunku Abdul Rahman Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman Dato’ Abdul Razak Hussein Colonel H.S. Lee

21. Events (Cont’d) 18 January – 8 February 1956 Lord Lennox Boyd – the Secretary of British Colonial Territories chaired the negotiations. The day the London Agreement was signed.

22. The British promise to grant independence on condition that a commission is formed to outline and draw up Malaya’s new Constitution. Tunku Abdul Rahman announced 31 August 1957 as the date for independence in Padang Hilir Malacca as agreed by the British government.

23. Constitution of the Federation of Malaya

24. Reid Commission 1956 – Lord Reid headed the commission to draw up a constitution for independent Malaya. Members: Britain: Lord Reid , Sir Ivor Jennings Australia : Sir William Mckell India: B. Malik Pakistan: Judge Abdul Hamid

25. The commission received suggestions and views from various organizations and individuals in Malaya. The memorandum of 131 written received from the Malay rulers and Alliance. The Constitution was accepted and approved by the Federal Legislative Council on 15 August 1957 and came into effect on 27 August 1957.

26. The 1957 Malayan Constitution fundamental principles: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of Malaya while the rulers are heads of their respective states. The Malays are recognized as the ‘sons of the soils’ and their special rights are guaranteed in the Constitution.

27. The 1957 Malayan Constitution fundamental principles (cont’d) : The Malaya language is to become the national language; English however can still be used in the Legislative Council for a period of 10 years after independence. A person born in Malaya on or after Independence is automatically a Malayan citizen. Islam is made the official religion of the Federation of Malaya, but freedom of worship is guaranteed for non-Muslims.

28. Proclamation of Independence

29. 31 August 1957 at the Selangor Club Green (as known as Dataran Merdeka or Independence Square), the Union Jack (the British flag) was brought down and the flag of independent Malaya (known as Jalur Gemilang) was flown.

30. 2.7 THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIA

31. The Idea of Malaysia • The British Cabinet had discussed the idea in order to protect British Interest. • 1955 – David Marshall suggested that Singapore unite with Malaya. • 1954 – Ghazali Shafie suggested the idea of coalition( bergabung) • 1955 – Tan Cheng Lock suggested the idea. • 1959 – Lee Kuan Yew said Singapore and Malaya should join together. • 1955 – Tunku Abdul Rahman voiced the idea during the UMNO conference.

32. The Idea of Malaysia ( Cont’d) Ahmad M.Azhari of Brunei and Ahmad Boestamam of Malaya gave the opposite idea to form Malaysia. 27 May 1961- Tunku revealed(dedahkan) his aspiration to form Malaysia at a dinner gathering for South East Asian journalist in Singapore.

33. The Idea of Malaysia ( Cont’d) Tunku announced the idea of unification after had several meetings with important leaders, including Lee Kuan Yuew (January 1961), Senu Abdul Rahman discussed the outcome of his survey in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei (1960) and Mac Millan in London (February, 1961)

34. Factors for the Formation of Malaysia

35. Independence Through Unification Understanding For Development Ethnic Balance and Unity Collective Fight Against Communism Economic Cooperation United in International Relations

36. Independence Through Unification Among the 5 potential member countries, only Malaya was free from any outside power after its independence on 31 August 1957. The other 4 countries, Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak & Singapore were still under British rule and the entry into Malaysia would enable them to become independence. The case of “freedom through unification” was a primary factor for the future member countries.

37. Understanding For Development Another reason felt by all the future member countries was the question of fostering (membela) regional understanding and creating one united nation for the progress of the country and the people.

38. Ethnic Balance and Unity This factor was not emphasized by Singapore but was important to the authorities in Kuala Lumpur Tunku wanted a Malaysia Federation, a large union encompassing Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak & Singapore. It is to ensure the preservation(terpelihara) of ethnic balance

39. Ethnic Balance and Unity (Cont’d) Maintaining a balance between non-Bumiputras and Bumiputras would ensure peace & stability in the region. Malay language decided as national language

40. Collective Fight Against Communism The communist threat was a source of worry to many including the British.. Malaya was constantly exposed to the communist threat even the era of Emergency was over. With formation of Malaysia, the influence of communist can be frail (lemah)

41. Economic Cooperation • Before formation of Malaysia, the economic between the region of Borneo, Malaya and Singapore are not balance. • By formation of Malaysia, it will benefit each other to develop a strong economic.

42. United in International Relations If the countries within the plan were to unite under one government & political system, their position as one new nation would be stronger in the international era.

43. Reaction towards the Idea

44. Singapore Lee Kuan Yew was the most interested with the idea of Malaysia. Initially, the people of Singapore gave their full support but political changes in Singapore in early 1961 changed the mind of part of the Singapore population.

45. Brunei The people of Brunei were not unanimously agreed to Malaysia, many of them preferred to be independent on their own first. Ahmad M.Azahari, leader of Parti Rakyat Brunei (Brunei People’s Party) opposed the idea because he wants Brunei uniting with British North Borneo and Sarawak under the name of North Kalimantan.

46. Sabah and Sarawak The reaction of the people was very encouraging because they want to free from British imperialism. They also worried with the communist’s threat. They also felt anxiety and were apprehensive about losing their position because of ‘Malayan domination’.

47. 2.8 BRUNEI’S WITHDRAWAL

48. Sultan Sir Omar Ali Sarifuddin refused to sign the Malaysian Agreement because: He felt disappointed about his positions from the point of view of the constitution. He refuse to pay petrol taxation to Malaysia for 10 years- (Kuala Lumpur was seen as “hungry octopus”) Brunei’s people refuse to join Malaysia

49. Steps towards the Formation of Malaysia

50. Proclamation of Malaysia that should be on 31 August 1963 was postponed to 16 September 1963 without Brunei.