Disperser of the People's Thoughts

Below is a translation of Dr. Alias Mohamed’s article in the Utusan Malaysia newspaper dated 21st July 2010 pg. 12 (bold and italics are mine). Let me just add a reminder that the tag line for Utusan is “the Disperser of the People’s Thoughts”. Many prescribe to the perspective and view of this newspaper. If the article is too long, just read the bold parts and you will get the picture. You are invited to copy and paste and send it for I don’t think it will be online for a long time. Do what is Just. Please also read Raja Petra’s article entitled Bodoh Sombong to know what we can do. I've put it on this blog too, titled the same 'Bodoh Sombong. Non-racist Malay's should know what the Chinese and Indian's have contributed to building this country as well. Do your part and spread the news. What you are about to read is very very alarming, and tells us how short a time we have left to do something.

Defending the Malay Rights

The Malay people’s journey towards creating a country based on the constitution has not only been one that is windy, filled with obstacles and all kinds of difficulties, it's also one that the Malay have had to pay a hefty price for.

Although blood was not shed at the forming of the country’s constitution, there can be no guarantee that racial conflict(bloodshed) will not occur in the future. The May 13th conflict of 1969 occurred because of the non-Malay’s failure to understand the basics/foundational elements of nation building.

From the very beginning, the Malays did not receive the colonization by the British. Through history we see that colonization was always opposed, tracing back to the days of the Malaccan empire under Portuguese, Dutch, British , Japanese, Siamese and then back to British occupation.

Opposition under patriots like Datuk Maharajalela at Pasir Salak, Datuk Bahaman, Mat Kilau, Haji Mat Hasan, Tok Janggut in Kelantan, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong and others that took place between the 19th and 20th centuries is a testament that Malays disapprove of foreigners. What more occupiers and communities of immigrants.

In the 19th century, the Malays actually resisted the entrance of the Chinese and Indian immigrants into Tanah Melayu(Malaya). Several Malay representatives that chaired and held leadership positions at the Dewan Mesyuarat Kerajaan (State Council) voiced out their dissatisfaction and opposed the idea of foreign labour being permitted into the country specifically the mining, agricultural and shipping sectors.

Despite their cries, the Malays were not strong in their stance of denying these immigrants access.. Therefore the Chinese and Indians flooded in grandly, with ease. This carried on until World War II and resulted in the non-Malays receiving citizenship, approved by Malay leadership of that time.

The absolute weakness and incapacity of the Malays, who were not united and too loyal to their respective state sovereigns(Raja), allowed the communist who were represented by Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) to seize the opportunity to establish a Communist Republic based government; Republik Komunis Malaya.

While the British were in good terms with the communist at that time, these occupiers decided to establish the Malayan Union. Therefore it is clear to see that the Malayan Union phenomenon was not as a result of the Japanese’ defeat on August of 1945, but was actually in the making for a long time in order that this new Malaya would see the inclusion of the Chinese and their rights within the constitution.

That is why the Malayan Union constitution targeted at the annulment of the Raja’s(state leader) rights and the native rights of the Malay for it was in their interest to give non-Malays the rights to the entire country long before the Malayan Federation Treaty of 1948 was annulled.

Unfortunately (for the Malays), they were unable to unite before World War II in order to raise up strong leadership who would defend the plight of the Malays. At the end of 1945, in the midst of the Communist Party of Malaya’s preparation to establish its republic, the Malays were still in disarray resulting to the formation of UMNO in 1946. In October of 1945 however, (approximately a month after the defeat of the Japanese) Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya was formed by a group of radical Malays under the guidance of Mokhtaruddin Lasso and then later that of Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmi.

Only after realizing that this group of radicals had in their plans to join forces with Indonesia, did several Malay leaders such as Za’ba, Tengku Ismail, Dato Onn Jaafar and others rise up to lead the Malays out of a pro republic influence which intended to merge with Indonesia.

If the Malays had witnessed disunity and disloyalty before the World War, things were not all that different after the war. The Malay conservative/traditionalist that were pro the Sultans were at odds with the radical group .A more serious faction was in between the traditionalists and the conservatives which later resulted in Dato Onn stating his opinion to UMNO on the matter and later resigning in 1951. He was convinced (by the influence of the British) that the Malay and the Chinese would support a non ethnic political party which was Independence of Malaya Party (IMP) which was established the same year.

But the real reason behind his retraction from UMNO was that he was influenced specifically by General Secretary of the Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu (State Alliance),Sir George Maxwell who also happen to be a very close friend of Tan Cheng Lock , the champion of the rights and citizenship of the Chinese. These two statesmen advised Dato onn to dissolve UMNO and replace it with a non ethnic party. This was the beginning of Dato Onn’s attitude which was initially pro Malay to become pro non-Malay.

Upon realizing later that what he had done was wrong, in 1954 Dato Onn reverted to become pro-Malay with the establishment of the National Party. This ultimately meant that the conviction and concept of IMP could not be supported by any Malay leader, at the same time pointing to the fact that the decision to give Chinese citizenship and rights were not inline with the conviction and beliefs of the Malays within the context of the pursuit of independence from the very beginning.

According to one document(Utusan rarely cites its sources), Dato Onn initially heeded the advice of Maxwell and Cheng Lock because many of his friends were British. Hence he pretended at that time to be “supra-communal” statesman.

After leaving UMNO in 1951, once he was confident he would establish IMP, he tried very hard to convince other Malay leaders, specifically the ones who had received British education, to follow in his footsteps.

It came as no surprise then to many, that when IMP was founded on the 19th of September 1945 in Kuala Lumpur, Cheng Lock was nominated as its chairman. This was quite expected of Dato Onn, for while he was president of UMNO, he often made decisions on His own without consulting other Malays.

One clear example was when he founded the "Communities Liaison Committee" in 1948 which was headed by British High Commissioner to East Asia, Sir Malcom Macdonald. This committee comprised six Malays (one of whom was Dato Onn himself), six Chinese(ChengLock included), a European and two Indians. The activities and decision made and carried out were based on a confidentiality clause and became the platform for bargaining between the races . Many details were not made known to Malays outside of this committee. The composition of CLC did not truly reflect Malaya as a Malay country.

The almost exact situation occurred during the time of Tunku. There are documents(again no citation to the source) revealing no opposition from Tunku at the formation of Malayan Union. In fact there were negotiations on amending the constitution between Tunku and his British officials and influential Chinese businessmen.

At the time when the constitution was officially being negotiated , there were clear signs that one day the dissatisfaction of the Malays in their own homeland will be expressed in wilful actions. This indeed happened on the 13th of May 1969.

Today there are more serious signs all around us based on current developments. The Chinese' voting trend in Chinese majority districts clearly portrays Chinese centred sentiments. Although numerous benefits and aid has been given to them, their choice is still a Chinese party that champions the Chinese rights and rejects a more moderate alternative and the conservative approach of the Malay leaders , which as the example of 1948 has shown, are even willing to kneel to appease their(Chinese) hearts.

Excessive Interpretation of the constitution only amounts to creating chaos and strife that equate to usurping of power as we saw almost take place in Perak and Selangor. All this has taken place because the Social Contract that is exhibited in the Constitution does not accurately represent the aspirations, ambitions and wants of the Malay community after independence was achieved. Once citizenship was given to the Chinese, it was never in the thoughts of the Malays that their rights would be challenged and opposed, furthermore with demands that equal rights be given at all levels even that which infringe on religious rights.

The Malay never dreamed that even the rights of the Sultans would be challenged by the Chinese after they had monopolized the economy of the country. All this only points to the fact that the Chinese have rejected the established status quo and ultimately the way the Malays govern the country.

The position of the Malays should be understood by all groups. The Malays will not move even an inch from their position as stated in the Constitution that makes special provision for their rights, founded on historical, sultanate ,cultural, linguistic and religious elements.

But, if further demands continue to be made for Malays to let go of what has been their right for hundreds of years then , the only other alternative left for the Malays are to defend their rights at any cost. Although it must be said that justice will not be biased towards any side, the rights of the Malays however, will always remain.


Blogger comments: Let us act against racist journalism. All Malaysians must act against this and put a stop to this now. If this article was ever writtten in the way to support the Chinese and Indians, there would already be a riot. This is as much our country as the bumiputras. What do we need to fear if Our Father is behind us. Do nothing, and let your children pay for it. Just look at Sabah and Sarawak. Please learn. Please