Chapter 1 –

History and
Politics
1.5_Malayan
Union
Malayan Union

◼ The Malayan Union plan was based

on the Atlantic Charter signed by the
British Prime Minister, Winston
Churchill, and the President of the
United States, Roosevelt, in August
1941.
Malayan Union

◼ The Atlantic Charter announced the

principles of independent government
for colonised territories.
◼ Based on the principles of the Atlantic
Charter, the Colonial Territories Office
along with War Office initiated plans
for a political revision in the Malay
Peninsula after the Second World War
in February 1943.
Malayan Union

◼ In July 1943, the Colonial Territories

Office in London formed a Malayan
Planning Unit to structure a new
administration for the Malay
Peninsula.
◼ George Hall, Secretary of Colonial
Territories, announced the Malayan
Union plan on 10th October 1945.
Malayan Union

◼ Subsequently, Sir Harold MacMichael was

appointed Special Representative of
British government to the Malay Peninsula
to obtain the Sultans’ consent.
• Soon after the Japanese occupation, the
British came back to Malaya and
introduced temporary military government
or BMA (British Military Administration).
• On 1st April 1946, the British replaced BMA
with the Malayan Union.
Malayan Union
Malayan Union
 Malayan Union

◼ British Military
Administration
$10,000 Note
Why British Introduced
Malayan Union?
◼ To combine all scattered
administration into one ruling system
(Malayan Union)
◼ The unification was to assist
administration and saved expenditure.
Why British Introduced
Malayan Union?
◼ To prepare for the locals for own
government.

◼ British owed to the Chinese and the

Indians whom helped them in fighting
with the Japanese.
Why British Introduced
Malayan Union?
◼ To enforce defense and boost economic
recovery and progress.

◼ The British realised the need to increase

efforts to develop the Malay Peninsula.
Why British Introduced
Malayan Union?
◼ To accomplish social development plans, the
Malay Peninsula needed to have a firm
economy.
• In 1904, the Malay Peninsula produced 51,733
tonnes of tin ore which was half of the world’s
production.

• In addition, the Malay Peninsula produced

196,000 tonnes of rubber in 1920, the largest
annual output in the world.
Why British Introduced
Malayan Union?

◼ In view of these positions, the British

wanted to ensure that their economic
investments and interests this country
remained under control.
Why British Introduced
Malayan Union?

◼ Assuring economic development and political

stability would be important because these
would promote foreign investment.
FEATURES OF THE
MALAYAN UNION
◼ Except for Singapore, all Malayan
States were united under one central
government i.e. Malayan Union.

◼ A British Governor would be appointed

in due course with the help of
Government Council and Judiciary
Council.
FEATURES OF THE
MALAYAN UNION
◼ Rulers’ sovereignty would be abolished
- they would only have the authority in
Islamic affairs and customs.

◼ State council would be under the

central government.
FEATURES OF THE
MALAYAN UNION
◼ All races would be given equal rights – Jus
Soli Principle.

◼ Malayan citizenship was obtained if:

(a) the foreigner was 18 and above and had
resided in Malaya for 10 out 15 years before
15 February 1942.
 FEATURES OF THE
MALAYAN UNION
(b) a person who born in Malaya after the forming
of the Malayan Union.

• Equal rights for all citizens regardless of race

or origin.

• This includes the entry into government

services and the right to vote in the general
election.
FEATURES OF THE
MALAYAN UNION
◼ The Malayan Union did not involve
Singapore.

◼ Singapore will remain as British colonial

territory under the rule of British Governor
General.
 FEATURES OF THE
MALAYAN UNION
• Harold Mac Michael was vested with the
responsibility of getting the agreement of all
the Malay rulers.

• In January 1946, the Constitution of the

Malayan Union was passed and on 1st April
1946, the Malayan Union was officially
proclaimed, with Edward Gent as the first
Governor.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
1. Harold MacMichael succeeded in getting
the Rulers’ signatures through intimidation.

◼ The Sultan of Kedah, for example, was

threatened with loss of power and throne,
if he refuse to sign.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
2. Erosion of Malay ruler’s power and
sovereignty.
◼ Among the Malays, the ruler is the supreme
head and has the power to protect them.
◼ The ruler’s loss of power meant the loss of
Malay power.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
3. The easy granting of citizenship to the non-
Malays.
◼ Could adversely affect the economic and
political situation of the Malays since at
that time, the total number of non-Malay
inhabitants exceed the Malays.
 Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ Opposition against the Malayan Union
also came form the former British officer in
Malaya, such as Frank Swettenham, R.O
Winstedt, George Maxwell and Cecil
Clementi Smith. George Maxwell

Frank Swettenham

R.O Winstedt
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ They voiced out their objection through the
press in London urging the British to
protect the interests and special rights of
the Malays.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ Dato’ Onn led the Malays against the
Malayan Union and instilled national spirit
among them.
◼ He established “Pergerakan Melayu
Semenanjung” (Peninsular Malay
Movement) in January 1946 to defend the
rights of the Malays.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union

Dato' Onn Jaafar's speaking at

one of the meetings.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union

Dato’ Onn Jaafar

Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ He chaired the Pan-Malayan Malay
Congress meeting on 29th and 30th March
1946 in Kuala Lumpur.
◼ Through this congress, the Malays were
advised to boycott the Malayan Union and
unite to stage demonstrations on 1st April
1946.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union

◼ In fact the Malays, went into mourning for 7

days from (1st April 1946) by tying a white
band to their headgear (songkok)
MALAYAN UNION
DEMONSTRATION
Opposition against the
Malayan Union

◼ The Malay rulers were advised not to

attend the appointment ceremony of
Edward Gent as the first Governor of the
Malayan Union.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ March 1946, the Malayan Malay Congress
chaired by Dato’ Onn met in Kuala Lumpur,
attended by 41 organisations, opposed the
formation of the Malayan Union, held
demonstrations at major towns, established
the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) to protect Malay interests.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ Umno slogan at that time was “Hidup
Melayu” and “Hidup Bangsa Melayu”
(Long Live Malays and Long Live the
Malay Race) then changed to “Merdeka”
(Independent).
◼ The strong fight against the Malayan
Union by the Malays caused the Malayan
Union to be abolished.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ The non-Malays were not so interested in
the Malayan Union, accusing it of being
colonial and undemocratic.

◼ The lost interest because of the British

decision to postpone the enforcement of
the citizenship rights.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ Furthermore they had no capable leaders
and were not aware of the politics of Malaya.

◼ Their spirit of nationalism was still in the

direction of their country of origin.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union

◼ They voiced out their dissatisfaction over

the Malayan Union in the press because it
did not include Singapore.
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ Non-Malays (mainly of Chinese)
formed the Malayan Democratic Union
(MDU)
Opposition against the
Malayan Union
◼ The British government ignored all
protests and Malayan Union was
proclaimed on 1 April 1946.
◼ Edward Gent became the Governor of the
Malayan Union.
◼ Malay Rulers boycotted the installation
ceremony.
 Opposition against the
Malayan Union
One of many demonstrations against
the Malayan Union
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

1. The Malayan Union constitution forced

the Malays to think in new direction.

◼ Stirred up a strong sense of

nationalism among the Malays.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

2. The Malays felt their position threatened

because of the Jus Soli principle of
granting the right of citizenship to
foreigners.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

3. The Malayan Union would eradicate

the power and sovereignty of the
Malays Rulers.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION
4. Opposition was collectively organized by
Malay Unions at the state and national
levels.

◼ Demonstrations by 10,000 people on 15

December 1945, when MacMichael arrived in
Kelantan to obtain the sultan’s signature.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

5. Sir Harold MacMichael threatened and

forced the Malay Rulers to accept the
Malayan Union.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

6. Wrong timing

◼ The introduction of Malayan Union was

too early, immediately after the Japanese
occupation.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION
◼ Communal feelings and hostility still existed
between the Malays and the Chinese
during Japanese occupation.

◼ The Malayan Union was accused of putting

the Malays at disadvantage and favoring
the non-Malays.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

◼ The locals were still occupied with the

Japanese slogan “Asia for Asians”.

◼ The Malays were not ready to accept

radical changes that would affect their
position.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION
7. The British government refused to accept
the Malays proposal on Malayan Union.

◼ The Union was drawn up in London

without taking into account to the
situation and wishes of the people in
Malaya.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION
8. Sir Harold MacMichael’s threats on
Malay Rulers challenged the Malay
sovereign.

◼ There was also strong objection to the

use of political blackmail to get the
agreement signed.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION

9. The previous British Administrators in

Malaya supported the Malay up rise.

◼ They urged the British to protect the

interest and special rights of the Malays.
 THE FAILURE OF
MALAYAN UNION
◼ As a result, the Malayan Union was
dissolved in July 1946.

◼ In this context, a consultation took place

between Edward Gent and the Malay rulers
and Dato’ Onn Jaafar to draw up a new
constitution to replace the Malayan Union
Constitution.
 Questions:
◼ What are the main features of the Malayan
Union introduced in 1946?
◼ Why did it fail?
◼ How nationalism spirit was boosted during
colonization period?