UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS

MALAYSIAN STUDIES (MPU 3173)

STRUGGLE FOR NATIONALISM IN MALAYA
Stages in Nationalism in Malaya

Prepared By:
Francisco Alexandre Guambe
Lecturer: Mr. Mohd Kamal
H/P: 0163539747
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Table of Contents
1.0. Introduction..3
1.1. Overview..4
1.1.1. The Influence and Spirit of Nationalism among the People..5
2.0. Stages in Nationalism in Malaya (Outside Influence) ..6
In 1905 The Japanese succeeded to defeating Russia
2.1. The Rise of Nationalism by Race.7
Malay Nationalism .8

Religious based level (1906-1926)8

Socialism and Economy level (1926-1938).....8

Political level (1938 onwards) 9
Chinese Nationalism
Indian Nationalism 9
2.2. The Spirit of Nationalism Spread through the Mass Media...11

2.3. The Spirit of Nationalism: Organized Movements12

2.4. The Formation of Malayan Union14

2.4.1. Opposition towards the Malayan Union15

2.5. The Negotiations of Independence16

Conclusion17

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References ..18

Acknowledgement
Special thanks go to my responsible and great lecturer. The supervision and support in
which He gave has truly provided great assistance in the progress and the smoothness of this
assignment. The cooperation is much indeed appreciated. Thank you so much for being such a
helpful lecturer.
It is indeed a pleasure to receive your informative guidance during this whole semester, whether
or not it is academic related or non-academic related matters. Your enthusiasm had indeed
inspired the passion to pursue excellence in Malaysian Studies. Besides that, this assignment had
inculcated the value in me of being cooperative as a non-Malaysian citizen and I had definitely
acquired a brand new knowledge throughout this whole assignment.

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The Struggle for Nationalism

1.0. Introduction
The Nationalist spirit among the local community in Malaya was influenced by several
developments outside the country, and was categorized into a few stages.
By the 20th century, many changes had resulted from the peoples fight for independence, from
their struggle for nationalism. Organizations and the mass media were used in the struggle.
External influences as well as the education received by the citizens were the primary factors that
created a conscious need among the people to fight for independence using the mind and words
rather than arms and force. The emergence of Malay intellectuals encouraged a struggle using
diplomacy that was supported by a heightened spirit of nationalism. It was apparent at that time
that there had emerged an awareness that independence could achieved not only through
uprisings and fighting, but also through negotiations and stirring the peoples spirit of
nationalism.

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1.1.Overview
1.1.1. The Influence and Spirit of Nationalism among the People
Although in some colonized countries the struggle for independence had the characteristic of an
armed struggle, as in Indonesia and Philippines, it was not so obvious in Malaysia. The people in
the country preferred to use associations and the mass media as channels to express their
dissatisfaction to their colonial masters. This spirit grew stronger when Japanese overran the
country and proclaimed their slogan of Asia for Asians. At the same time, a few members of
the Young Malays Union (Kesatuan Melayu Muda-KMM), an organization of young radicals,
who had been imprisoned by the British and released. KMM was revived under the leadership of
Ibrahim Yaacob. The struggle through the spirit of nationalism continued even after Japan was
defeated in the Second World War and the British had returned to Malaya.

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2.0. Stages in Nationalism in Malaya (Outside Influence)

In 1905 The Japanese succeeded to defeating Russia

Picture 1: Battle of Mukden

By 1904, Russia and Japan had endured several years of disputes over control of Manchuria. The
Russians had entered the region during the Sino-Japanese War of 189495 and, along with
Germany and France, was a part of the Triple Intervention that forced Japan to give up its
demands for ports in South Manchuria and the Liaodong Peninsula in the wake of its victory in
China. Instead, Russia moved into the area and took control of Port Arthur, a warm water port
with strategic and commercial significance. A Japanese attempt to stage a coup in adjacent Korea
was thwarted in part by the Russian presence in the region, and the two nations divergent
interests appeared more and more likely to clash.

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Picture 2: Battleship Potemkin Mutiny, June 1905

Picture 3: photo of attack on Port Arthur

In 1904, the Japanese attacked the Russian fleet at Port Arthur before the formal declaration of
war was received in Moscow, surprising the Russian navy and earning an early victory. Over the
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course of the next year, the two forces clashed in Korea and the Sea of Japan, with the Japanese
scoring significant, but costly, victories. War casualties were high on both sides. At the battle
over Mukden, the Russians lost 60,000 soldiers and the Japanese lost 41,000 soldiers. The
military costs were high as well. A Russian fleet made the long trip from the Baltic Sea around
Africa and India, only to be half destroyed by the Japanese upon its arrival in Northeast Asia. By
1905, the combination of these losses and the economic cost of financing the war led both
countries to seek an end to the war.
The Japanese asked U.S. President Roosevelt to negotiate a peace agreement, and representatives
of the two nations met in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1905. For the sake of maintaining the
balance of power and equal economic opportunity in the region, Roosevelt preferred that the war
end on terms that left both Russia and Japan a role to play in Northeast China. Though excited by
the Japanese military victories, Roosevelt worried about the consequences to American interests
if Japan managed to drive Russia out entirely.

The negotiations centered on access to ports and territories in Manchuria and Korea, control of
Sakhalin Island, and the question of who was responsible for paying war costs. The chief aims of
the Japanese negotiator included first control in Korea and South Manchuria, then the negotiation
of an indemnity and control of Sakhalin Island. The Russians wanted to maintain Sakhalin
Island, refused to pay a war costs indemnity to the Japanese, and hoped to maintain their fleet in
the Pacific. The indemnity issue, along with the dispensation of Sakhalin Island, were the major
sticking points in the negotiation, although given its financial straits in 1905, Russia was likely
unable to pay an indemnity even if required by a treaty to do so.

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When negotiations reached an impasse, Roosevelt stepped in with the proposal that Russia buy
back the northern part of Sakhalin from Japanese control. The Russians were adamant that they
would not pay any amount of money, which would act as a disguised indemnity, when the
territory ought to be theirs. After long internal debate, Japan eventually agreed to take only the
southern half of the island, without any kind of payment. Theirs had not been a decisive enough
victory to force the point.

The Treaty ultimately gave Japan control of Korea and much of South Manchuria, including Port
Arthur and the railway that connected it with the rest of the region, along with the southern half
of Sakhalin Island; Russian power was curtailed in the region, but it was not required to pay
Japans war costs. Because neither nation was in a strong financial position to continue the war
easily, both were forced to compromise in the terms of the peace. Still, the Japanese public felt
they had won the war, and they considered the lack of an indemnity to be an affront. There was a
brief outbreak of protests and rioting in Tokyo when the terms of the agreement were made
public. Similarly, the Russian people were also dissatisfied, angry about giving up half of
Sakhalin.

2.1. The Rise of Nationalism by Race

The existence of three communities with conflicting interests and different viewpoints prevented
the emerging of a united nationalist movement in the period up to 1942. To the Malays the
colonial rgime was a bulwark against the economic strength and total number of immigrants.
The Chinese and Indians, even those who had settled in Malaya, were preoccupied with their
own material interests. The struggle against European domination in the country of their origin

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meant more to them than the course of events in Malaya. The Malay and Chinese communities
were each a house divided against itself.

Malay Nationalism

Religious based level (1906-1926)

Influenced by the Islamic Reformation Movement in the Middle East, especially in

Turkey and Egypt. Because religion was considered to be a matter of state concern under the
colonial regime, the state governments have always been more sensitive than the federal
government to religious issues. Consequently demands by Malays for strengthening Islam were
made first at the state level. Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin and Syed Sheikh Ahmad al-Hadi (Kaum
Muda) led this belief that influenced Malay students in Cairo. Kaum Muda encourages the
community to establish associations for communtiy development and advocated liberalization in
religous education, the freedom of women and modernization. However get opposed from Kaum
Tua.
Socialism and Economy level (1926-1938)

Started by a small number of elite Malays who had English education and Malays Education,
especially from Maktab Perguruan Sultan Idris. Form of Persaudaraan Sahabat Pena to champion
the socio-economic restorations of the Malays in 1926.

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 Political level (1938 onwards)

In the period between the two World Wars incipient Malay nationalism took on a secular form
and lost its pan-Islamic flavour. The presence of some of the Indonesian nationalist leaders who
took refuge in Malaya after the failure of their first attempt in 1926 to overthrow the Dutch
rgime gave a slight stimulus to the rather tepid Malay interest in the project for uniting Malaya
and Indonesia in a pan-Malaysian state liberated from colonial rule.

Chinese Nationalism

Studies on the English-educated leaders tend to emphasize how they were locally oriented,
culturally distinct and remote from the Chinese masses.i On the other hand, most of studies
focusing on Chinese-educated leaders tend to emphasize close relation between the leaders and
China. When the Chinese in Malaya, claiming themselves as Chinese, did any activities which
had some links with the movements developed in China, their activities have been interpreted as
an expression of the Chinese nationalism with strong loyalty towards their mother country as
a result of strong influence from mainland China. Kuomintang Party from China fought for
unification of China and the strengthening of the country through industry and modernization.
1913: Kuomintang party appeared in Malaya which gave assistance to the main party in China.
Active in Malaya during 1920s to the 1930s.

The establishment of Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Confucian temples, Chinese schools etc.
and donations or investments towards China are all understood as such expression. Malayan
Communist Party (MCP): (1937-1938), started a series of strikes which led to the arrest and

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deportation of several of its leaders and caused the decline of the MCP and weakened its
influence in the Malay Peninsula.
Cultural Nationalism
The Lo Shan She lecture movement

The overseas Chinese in Singapore and Malaya expressed a strong desire to preserve their
cultural identity. This was indicated in their close adherence to Chinese ways of life. They ate
Chinese foods, wore Chinese costumes, built Chinese-style houses, observed Chinese customs
and traditions, and exalted Chinese values. Their Chinese identity was nevertheless threatened by
Western and Malay cultures. The spread of Western culture in the Chinese communities came
mainly through English education.

Indian Nationalism

Once Malaya was occupied, the former Central Indian Association of Malaya (CIAM) elite,
formed on October 1936 took the initiative to establish Indian Independence League branches
throughout the country. By August 1942, there were about 40 Indian Independence League
branches with over 12,000 members throughout the country. In the same year, the Indian
National Army was formally constituted with a membership of 16,300 Indian prisoners of war.
The National Movement, as Mahatma Gandhi led the Indian National Congress and conceived
the philosophy of "Satyagraha" that means non-violent resistance against the British. Success of
the Indian National Congress in obtaining independence give hope to the Indian community in
Malaya.

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2.2. The Spirit of Nationalism Spread through the Mass Media

The printed media also played its part in spurring nationalism in Malaya, especially amongst the
educated community at the time. Each media outlet targeted a different group and had its own
message, as described in the table below:

Mass Media

Al-Iman & Saudara

Targeted at younger community and headed by

Syed Sheikh al-Hadi.

Warta Malaya

Newspaper that created awareness among the

Malays and criticized the British policies.

Symbol of Malay unity and was pivotal in

Utusan Melayu

spreading nationalist

sentiments

across

the

country. It still publishes to this day. The primary

leaders were Abdul Rahim Kajai and Ishak Haji
Muhammad.

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Organizations

Formed in 1926 with the aim to encourage

Singapore
Malays Union

Malays to be involved in the government.

Selangor Malays Union

Formed in 1938 with the primary aim to

Perak Malays Union

force

the

British

to

increase

Malay

participation in the administration and to

improve the economic, political, and social
of the Malays.
Formed in 1937 with the aim to improve the
economic status and education of Malays.

2.3. The Spirit of Nationalism: Organized Movements

The nationalist spirit and the struggle of the people gained more publicity as their effort was
made known by the organizations they joined.
Na
me
Kesatuam

Year
Founded
1926

Of
Mela
yuOrganiz

Members/Notable Figures
Singaporean Malays who

-To improve the socio-

had English education

Economic

Mohammad Eunos

ation
Singa
1934
Persaudaraa

Abdullah
Malay
educated

pura
n

who(founder)

(KM
Sahabat

Tengku
Abdul
Kadir
were
pro-Kaum
Muda

S)
Pena
(PASPAM)

Objectives/Aims

of

and arouse their interest

the Malays,
to

become
involved
elites -To improve
the socio-

in

politics.
Economic status of the Malays by

Embak
SyedSuloh
Alwi
S.M. Zainal Abidin
Sheikh

status

Abdullah

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al- Maghribi

organizing conferences
to

solve problems

by the Malays.

faced

Persatuan

18 September Mostly

Melayu

1937

government -To work together with

servants

the British to protect the interests of

Wan Mohd Nur bin the Malays

Perak

Tengku
Wan
Ismail B.

-To forimprove
Fought
the rights ofthe

Melayu

Nasi
Tengku

and economy
of the
people.
Malays
to serve
in Malay
the government

Selangor

r
Yasin

(PMPK)
Persatuan

Persatuan

June 1937

March 1938

Mohd

sectors, Malay education, and the

Malay rights.
S.Kassim
Raja Bot
Tengku
Muhamad
b. RajaB. protection
-To fight for of
the interest
Sultan
Yahya
Ahmad

Melayu

education

Of the Malay people and seek

to

Pahang
Persatuan

9 September

solvefor
theirthe
problems.
Raja
Datuk
Yaacob
HusseinMuhamad
b.
b. Mohd To fight

Tengku
interest Of the

Melayu

1938

Talib
Raja
Nasir

Persatuan
Negeri

20 April

Alang
Members

Melayu
Sembilan

1939

comprised
elite

Kelantan

Kongres Melayu
Seluruh Tanah
Melayu

1939-1940

Malay people seek to

solve

mostly -To fight

the interest
theirfor
problems

members

of the Malay people, seek to

of

solve their problems

society who had English

Umar
education
Nik Yahya Nik Daud
AnNik
alliance ofMuhammad
all the other -To
discuss
matters
Haji Othman Tahir
Saleh
Malay Associations
in Pertaining to the advancement of
Malaya

the associations

themselves,

the

welfare of the Malay States, the

rights of the Malays to serve in the
government,

and

the

welfare of the Malays in general.

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Kesatuan

August 1938

Malay-educated people who -Fight for independence

Melayu Muda

Had radical ideologies. They for

(KMM)

included

Malayan

April 1930

Communist

Sekolah

Serdang

and

Teknikal

Kuala

and form

from Melayu Raya

students

Maktab Perguruan Sultan -Did

Idris,

Malaya

not

want

to

Pertanian cooperated with British

Sekolah -Was outlawed in June
Lumpur. 1942

by

Japanese

Reporters
also them
joined were
this government
Majority of
-To form a because
communistthey
association.
Chinese

communist
ties. oust
republic to

had

the

Party

Ibrahim Haji Yaakob

-British
Parties
in line with KMM :
Government.

(MCP)

Ishak Haji Muhammad

PKMM,
PETA : Malayan
-JapaneseAWAS,
occupation

Abdul Karim Rashid

Peoples Anti- Japanese

Isa Mohammad
2.4. The Formation of Malayan Union Ahmad Boestamam

(MPAJA) worked with

the British

-Ruled M a l a y a f o r t w o weeks
Soon after the Japanese occupation, the British came back to Malaya and introduced temporary
after Japanese left.
military government or BMA (British Military Administration). On 1st April 1946, the British
replaced BMA with the Malayan Union to combine all scattered administration into one. The
unification was to assist administration and saved expenditure to enforce defense and boost
economic recovery and progress.
The Malayan Union brought to the locals the spirit of ownership of their government as the
British owed to the Chinese and the Indians whom helped them in fighting with the Japanese.
The Malayan Union gave equal rights to people who wished to apply for citizenship. It was
automatically granted to people who were born in any state in British Malaya or Singapore and
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were living there before 15 February 1942, born outside British Malaya or the Straits Settlements
only if their fathers were citizens of the Malayan Union and those who reached 18 years old and
who had lived in British Malaya or Singapore "10 out of 15 years before 15 February 1942".
2.4.1. Opposition towards the Malayan Union
March 1946, the Malayan Malay Congress chaired by Dato Onn met in Kuala Lumpur, attended
by 41 organizations, opposed the formation of the Malayan Union, held demonstrations at major
towns, established the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) to protect Malay interests
as Harold Mac Michael succeeded in getting the Rulers signatures through intimidation and a
group of former British officers like Frank Swettenham also opposed.
The British government ignored all protests and Malayan Union was proclaimed on 1 April 1946
and Edward Gent became the Governor of the Malayan Union but Malay Rulers boycotted the
installation ceremony.
The Failure of the Malay Union
The Malayan Union constitution forced the Malays to think in new direction. The Malays
felt their position threatened because of the Jus Soli principle as the Malayan Union
would eradicate the power and sovereignty of the Malays Rulers and Sir Harold Mac
Michael threatened and forced the Malay Rulers to accept the Malayan Union.
The Local Uprise Against the Malayan Union
United Malay National Organization (UMNO) was formed by Dato Onn on 11th May
1946. 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)

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and the strong fight against the Malayan Union by the Malays caused the Malayan Union
to be abolished.

2.5. The Negotiations of Independence

As a Chief Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman led a team to London in February 1956 to negotiate
for Malayas independence. The team consisted of four representatives of the Malay rulers:
Datuk Panglima Gantang, Dato Ahmad Kamil, Abdul Aziz Majid and Dato Mohd Seth;
representatives of Alliance: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman, Dato Abdul
Razak Hussein and Colonel H.S. Lee and British representatives in Malaya. Lord Lennox Boyd,
the secretary of British Colonial Territories chaired the negotiations which lasted three weeks,
from 18 January to 8 February, the day the London Agreement was signed.
The British promised to grant Independence on condition that a commission be formed to outline
and draw up Malayas new Constitution. The British government agreed to declare independence
for Malaya on 31 August 1957. Tunku Abdul Rahman announced the date for independence in
Padang Bandar Hilir Malacca as soon as the team returned from London.

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Conclusion
In conclusion. The struggle for independence inspired nationalism, patriotism, co-operation and
tolerance amongst races. As the Malaysian suffered the oppression by the many colonial, they
fought hard guided by the spirit of nationalism as to conquer the independence and this spirit of
unite that brought together the three races to fight for belongs to them, and it was in 1957 that
finally their freedom would been spread through the Malayan land, the independence.

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References
o Books
1. GULLICK, J.M. MALAYA, Ernest Benn Limited, London, 1963.
2. TOMARU, Junko, the Postwar Rapprochement of Malaya and Japan, 1945-61,
MACMILLAN PRESS LTD, London, 2000.
3. ROFF, William R. The Origins of Malay Nationalism, London-Yale University Press,
1967.
4. Jali, Nazaruddin Hj. Mohd, Redzuan, Marof, Samah, Asnarulkhadi Abu, Rashid,
Ismail Hj. Mohd, Malaysian Studies, Nationhood And Citizenship, Pearson Prentice
Hall, Malaysia, 2003.
o Links
1. http://www.slideshare.net/andymui/the-early-history-of-malaysia
2. http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/portsmouth-treaty
3. http://www.russojapanesewar.com/
4. http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/70589/p-t-bauer/nationalism-and-politics-inmalaya
5. http://books.google.com.my/books?id=rR0GbqNKDzAC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq
=Malay+nationalism+religious+state&source

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