Malayan Union

Malay nationalism began when the Malays began to feel cheated of their rights and yearned to free their country from foreign colonization, and reached its peak with the formation of the Malayan Union. The initial stage of the proposal for the Malayan Union began during the Second World War, when the British drew up a new constitution for Malaya at its colonial office in London. It was agreed, through this constitution, that Malaya would become a British colony state, instead of retaining its current status as a British protectorate state. The decision to establish the Malayan Union was made after London received information that one of the main reasons they were defeated by the Japanese was due to weaknesses in the Malayan administration system which was not coordinated properly. Prior to the Japanese occupation, Malaya comprised three administration units - the Straits Settlements, Federated Malay States and Unfederated Malay States. Each administration catered to the needs of its own territory. Through the Malayan Union, the British proposed that these three administration units be combined into a single unitary state, while Singapore remained a separate unit. In October 1945, Sir Harold MacMichael was sent to Malaya to discuss the Malayan Union proposal with the Sultans. The latter wasted no time in agreeing to the Malayan Union and on 21st December 1946, three months from the time of MacMichaels arrival in Malaya, all nine Sultans agreed to the proposal and gave their signatures. Subsequently, the British government announced the constitution of Malayan Union on 22 January 1946 and made known its proposals. Among them were that: a. The Malayan Union would comprise the two Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca, as well as the nine federated and Unfederated Malay states. It was to be controlled by a Governor. An Executive Council and a Legislative Council would be appointed to help the Governor, who would in turn, have to answer to the governor-general of Singapore, Malayan Union and Borneo. b. Singapore, on the other hand, which was part of the Straits Settlements, would remain a separate British colony with its own Governor. The British made sure of this, knowing

very well that Malayas opposition to a union with Singapore would hamper efforts of establishing the Malayan Union. c. Although the Sultans still maintained their authority over religious matters and received pensions from the British government, they were powerless in all other political matters. d. Each State Council would aid the local government, but they were to take orders from the central government. e. All citizens of Malaya, regardless of race, would have equal rights, which even included admission into the civil service. f. Citizens of Malayan Union were allowed to possess two nationalities while residing in the country. g. The constitution also proposed that citizenship of the Malayan Union be opened to those who were: i. Aged 18 and above or residing in Malaya or Singapore for at least 10 of the 15 years prior to the formation of the Malayan Union. ii. Born outside the Malayan Union, on the condition that his or her father was a citizen or born in Malaya or Singapore prior to the setting up of the Malayan Union. iii. Living in the Malayan Union or Singapore for at least 5 of the 8 years before making their application for citizenship. This group of people, however, was expected to take an oath of allegiance, have a clean record, speak English or Malay and be prepared to reside in the Malayan Union.

Opposition from the Malays Instead of accepting the Malayan Union with open arms, the Malay population gave the British a rude shock when they strongly objected to the new constitution. Even the Chinese and Indians did not favour the Malayan Union as expected. Led by retired British members of the Malayan Civil services and Malay leaders, MacMichael was accused of intimidating the Malay Sultans and consequently obtained their agreement to the Malayan Union through his cunning. A group of Malay students in the United Kingdom protested strongly against the Malayan Union and sent a memorandum suggesting that the British recognise the sovereignty of the Sultans and withdraw the privileges of equal rights to all people in Malaya. About

10,000 Malays demonstrated outside the sultans palace in Kelantan when MacMichael paid the sultan a visit on December 15th, 1945. In March 1946, Dato Onn bin Jaafar, a District Officer from Batu Pahat who had earlier formed the Peninsula Malay Movement of Johor on 3rd January 1946, met with some 200 Malay delegates from 41 associations to discuss their opposition to the Malayan Union. It was here that the Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melaya Bersatu or United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) was formed, led by its president, Dato Onn Bin Jaafar. During this congress, the Malays agreed on several issues. Among them were to: a. boycott the proposal of Malayan Union and all formal ceremonies b. urge the Sultans to boycott the installation ceremony of Sir Edward Gent, the appointed Governor of the Malayan Union c. urge the Malays to mourn the establishment beginning 1st April 1946 d. draft a new constitution with the British e. establish a Malay political party to champion the cause of the Malays as a respectable race. When the next congress was held in Johor Bahru on 11 May 1946, UMNO was made official.

UMNOs effect on the Malayan Union When the Malays first began their protests against the Malayan Union, the British refused to scrap the new constitution and proceeded to speed up its implementation. This was done to remove the British military administration, which had been governing Malaya since the Japanese left the peninsula. However, the opposition led by UMNO put too much pressure on the British who eventually revoked their plans for the Malayan Union. Some of UMNOs efforts include education of the public. UMNO members actively sought support from a wide cross-section of the Malayan society by travelling all over the peninsula. They evoked feelings of dissatisfaction from the public by indicating that the treaties organised by MacMichael were invalid and the proposals in the new constitution were implemented without consultation with the Malays.

UMNO also managed to influence the sultans to boycott the installation ceremony of Sir Edward Gent and Sir Malcolm MacDonald, who were appointed the new Governor and Governor-General respectively. UMNO leaders wore white bands for one week to protest the Malayan Union, while demonstrations were actively held. In addition, they were also seeking to implement another constitution, which would prevent easy access to Malayan citizenship and also enable the Sultans to hold on to their power. UMNOs efforts were not in vain, for the Malayan Union was finally revoked on 1 February 1948 when the Federation of Malaya came into existence.

Federation of Malaya

The British were indeed surprised with the opposition against the Malayan Union and feedback from Gent and MacDonald. Consequently, the British sent two Members of Parliament in mid 1946 to monitor the situation. In looking at the massive opposition from the Malays, the British realised that if they ignored the problem, they would become highly unpopular and lose support altogether from the Malays. The British could also foresee the possibility of violence from the Malays and the loss of the their trust. And since at that time, the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) was already establishing itself in the peninsula, the British feared that it would thrive under support from citizens discontented with British administration. They were already disdained to find that many Chinese and Indians had already pledged their allegiance to the MCP and were not happy with the proposals in the Malayan Union. As such, the British decided to give leeway to the demands of the Malays and formed a working committee comprising 6 representatives from UMNO, the Sultans and the British Governor on 1st July 1946. One year later, the committee reached an agreement and a new constitution for the Federation of Malaya began to take effect from on 1st Feb 1948. In this new Federation, the special privileges of the Malays were restored back to while the Sultans maintained their sovereignty and were to be aided by a central government.

This central government would comprise an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. The Sultan had the authority to enforce any bill that was not passed by the Legislative Council and ratify other bills passed by the council. Ultimate authority, however, would be held by the British High Commissioner, who would be the president of the Legislative Council. The British High Commissioner was to attend the conference of rulers thrice e year and consult the rulers on Immigration policies. Prior to the formation of the constitution for the Federation of Malaya, the British had formed a committee comprising representatives from various races to submit their proposals on the draft. As a result, some amendments were made to the constitution and the number of representatives in the Legislative Council was increased to 75 from 48 and made way for more places for the Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli and Eurasians. The Federation of Malaya, like the Malayan Union, would comprise the nine Malay states and two Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca, while Singapore still remained a separate colony. While the Federal Government had authority over matters of law and order, defence, foreign issues, finance and commerce, the State governments had authority over agriculture, religion and education. The previous proposals for citizenship as stated in the Malayan Union were also revoked and saw some significant changes. To be a citizen of the Federation of Malaya, one had to be competent in both English and Malay, be of good conduct, swear an oath of allegiance to the Federation, and be prepared to reside permanently in the Federation. Apart from these requirements, citizenship was given to those who applied for it and also those who received it automatically. Those who were eligible for application include those who were living in the Federation for at least 15 of the 20 years required, before making their applications and those who were born in the Federation and were residing there for at least 8 of the 12 years before their application. Those who were born in Singapore did not qualify for citizenship. Those who received citizenship automatically include those who were: a. Residing in the Straits Settlements of either Penang or Malacca and were in fact, British subjects b. Living in any states and were subjects of any of the Sultans c. Born in the Federation, provided that his or her parents were born in the Federation as well and lived there for 15 years.

Although the Malays hailed the implementation of the Federation of Malaya, the other races in Malaya were not too pleased. Consequently, a number of groups and political parties rallied together and formed the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA) in February 1947. In July 1947, the AMCJA presented alternative proposals which were termed the peoples constitutional proposals. These proposals outlined an alternative to the Federation of Malaya. Among the proposals were that: a. All those in Malaya or who have been residing in Malaya for 8 years be given citizenship b. All citizens be granted equality in terms of rights and opportunities c. Singapore be included in the Federation of Malaya d. The Legislative Council comprised 55 percent of Malays in the first nine years e. The Legislative Council should elect an Executive Council f. A Council of races be elected and given the authority to delay any legislation with racial implications for three years. g. The Malay Sultans retain their position as constitutional monarchs h. Affairs pertaining to Malay customs and Islam be controlled by the Malays.

The British government, however, were more partial towards the Malays and preferred to deal with them compared to the Chinese. To make matters worse, the British were highly suspicious of the events that were taking place in China and were already satisfied with negotiations between them, the Malay rulers and UMNO. Hence, although the opposition from the Chinese was significant, the British were adamant in their decision to maintain the Federation of Malaya.