1. Federation of Malaya 1948 Replaced M.U. 1/2/48 Implemented after recommendations from a working committee consisting of 6 British officers, 4 representatives of Malay rulers, 2 UMNO rep. Recommendations -Sovereignty and power of Malay rulers protected -To be more strict with citizenship granted to non- Malays -Preserve special rights of Malays -Separation of Singapore

2. Contents of Federation of 1948 -Federation of nine states, Penang and Malacca but excluding Singapore which remained as a British colony. -Federal government in-charge of defence, foreign affairs, law and order, commerce, communications and finance. Individual states responsible for education, agriculture and religion. -High Commissioner to attend a conference of rulers 3 times a year and to consult the rulers on immigration policy. Conference of Malay rulers to be chaired by one of the Sultans

3. -Head of Federation British High Commissioner appointed by British government. Chair an Executive Council and Legislative Council to help him. Not bound to accept advice. As President of Legislative Council, had the power to veto a bill or put into effect one that had not been passed by LC. -Executive Council/Federal Meeting Council consisted of the High Commissioner, three examination officio, nine presidents from State Councils, two representatives from Municipality Councils of Penang and Malacca,11 official members and 50 unofficial members.

4. -Legislative Council with 75 members. 50 unofficial members nominated by H. Comm. One official member from each state. Unofficial members comprised 22 Malays, 14 Chinese, 7 Europeans, 5 Indians, 1 Ceylonese and 1 Eurasian.

5. - Sultans’ prewar powers restored. To rule their states with help of Executive Council and Legislative Council made up of nominated official and unofficial members. All bills to be rectified by Sultans. -Changes made regarding qualification for citizenship. Citizens required to have sufficient knowledge of English and Malay and be of good character. Divided into two i.e. automatic and by application. *Automatic citizenship given to: i) subjects of the sultan of any state

6. ii) Br. subjects born in Penang or Malacca and had lived in the federation for 15 years. iii) Any British subjects born in the federation whose fathers had been born there or had lived there for 15 years. iv) Any person born in the Federation whose two parents had been born in and lived continuously in the Federation for at least 15 years.

7. *Citizenship by application given to: i) Anyone born in the Federation and had lived there for at least 8 out of the 12 years immediately preceding the application ii) Anyone who had lived in the federation for at least fifteen of the 20 years immediately preceding the application.

8. -Those born in Singapore cannot become citizens of the Federation. Malays were given special rights. They were given majority seats in the Federal and State governments.

9. Britain had to agree with the recommendations by tightening citizenship rights, reinstalling Sultans’ sovereignty and power and returning special privileges of Malays to overcome pressure from the Malays and former British officers Reactions -Non-Malays did not want to co-operate because working committee did not include a non-Malay

10. -22/12/46 formed All Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA) to oppose Federation proposal. Headed by Tan Cheng Lock -Components of AMCJA were MIC, Malayan People’s Anti- Japanese Ex-Services Comrades Association and the Pan-Malayan Federation of Trade Unions, Malayan Democratic Union, Malay People’s Party, Malay Nationalist Party and the Pan-Malayan Congress.

11. Their proposals -Union of Malaya and Singapore -Self rule or self government through Central Legislation body whose members chosen by people (elected). -Citizenship rights to be given to all those who consider Malaya as their home and focus of loyalty. -Malay customs and religion to be left to the Malays

12. -Sultans’ sovereignty to be maintained but sultan to be constitutional monarch. AMCJA not radical enough. Some left-wing parties left to form PUTERA. PUTERA wanted Malay language to become the national language. Britain must give up its control of Malayan defence and foreign policy. British government should negotiate with PUTERA and not UMNO.

13. Other political parties during this time -Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API) under Ahmad Boestaman -Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) under Dr. Burhanuddin -Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS) under Shamsiah Fakeh -All these parties joined to form PUTERA (Pusat Tenaga Rakyat) lead by Dr. Burhanuddin

14. These parties did not agree with UMNO which was accused of being under the influence of feudalist. PUTERA a radical Malay party. Influenced by PKM. Wanted Malaya to be a republic and the - use of the word ‘Malay” for citizenship -National flag to have Malay national colours -Bahasa Melayu to be made the official language

15. Both AMCJA and PUTERA joined hands under Dr. Burhanuddin March 1947 and opposed Federation constitution. April 1947 formed People’s Constitution but rejected by British. 20.10.47 nationwide strike but suppressed by British. Brought UMNO closer to British. Most UMNO members English educated. AMCJA multi-racial. Their opposition was of advantage to UMNO. 21/2/48 British established Federation of Malaya with agreement from sultans and UMNO

16. New constitution and citizenship arrangements calmed the Malays. Non-Malays unhappy over Singapore, minority protection, educational barriers, occupations and wealth distribution Political parties late 1940’s and early 1950’s UMNO- 11 th May 1946-Dato’ Onn Jaafar -first president. First political party. Its constitution approved in May 1946 containing the objectives of the party, the formation of its divisions and its system of administration

17. -Formation directly linked to Malay opposition towards formation of Malayan Union. Objective independence and self-government, to unite the Malays and defend the special rights of the Malays. -Slogan Long Live the Malays rallying cry during the UMNO meeting September 1946 - 39 branches with 100375 members till 1951. Divided into Perikatan Pemuda UMNO and Pergerakan Kaum Ibu UMNO -represented the Malays and played a central role demanding independence for Malaya.

18. MCA -27 February 1949. Idea by Leong Yeow Koh. Tan Cheng Lock first president. -Objectives to protect Chinese privileges and rights and interests. First interested in welfare and later also to maintain harmony amongst the various races. -From 1952 became political. 1949 100,000 members. -Joined with UMNO to form Alliance Party. Formed to show to the Malays that the Chinese were not supporters of MCP.

19. MIC 8 th August 1946 founded by John Thivy, first president. Objectives to safeguard political, economic and social interests of Indian community in Malaya, to cooperate with other races in the struggle to improve conditions in the Malay States, fight for political rights for the whole of Malaya. April 1955 joined Alliance. 20,000 members in 1955.

20. THE ALLIANCE PARTY -1952 Municipal Election. Leaders of Selangor UMNO and Kuala Lumpur MCA worked together to form a multiracial political party. -UMNO-MCA alliance won 9 out of 12 seats.Indication of cooperation between races for mutual interests. MIC decided to join. -July 1955 first General Election. Alliance won 51 out of 52 seats

21. -Victory led to fresh negotiations for independence -A sign of racial unity among the various ethnic groups -locals were ready for self-government IMP -16/9/1951Dato Onn left UMNO to form IMP aimed at adopting a more liberal attitude towards non- Malays

22. Emergency of 1948 MCP took advantage of the situation, a period of uncertainty and transition, to try to take over the country. Began an armed uprising in June 1948. Reasons for their revolt -Failure of peaceful approach to win the people. Needed to take much stronger measures to form a republic. -Change in party leadership. Chin Peng took over -Asian Congress of Communist Youth called for the use of force -Encouragement from Chinese Communist Party for a revolt. Wanted MCP to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Republic in Malaya.

23. Chinese, Malays and Indians recruited. Mostly Chinese joined due to communication reasons. Party worked underground. Infiltrated Malayan trade unions and organized strikes. 1935, 6,000 workers in a coal mine in Batu Arang, Selangor staged a strike. Declared a communist government in the area but overthrown. Leaders deported and later executed. During WW2, told not to antagonize the British or French who were fighting the Germans. Communist in Malaya not very happy with this policy. Soviet Russia sent Lai Teck to settle problems in Malaya.

24. Lai Teck would cooperate with the British and later would work to end their rule in Malaya. Lai Teck became a British agent and kept them informed of developments in the party. Showed support for Kuomintang Party in China. Thus won support of the Chinese in Malaya. Sided the British in the war against Japan. British sent communist men for training at the 101 Special Training School in Singapore. Later sent to conduct guerilla warfare against the Japanese. But not strong enough to defeat the Japanese. Communist guerillas captured and tortured. Communist formed the MPAJA. British provided training. Won the support of the Chinese.

25. 1945 Japanese surrendered. MPAJA seized their weapons. Killer squads sent to deal with Japanese collaborators. Before the British return, MPAJA took over Malaya. September 1945, British returned. Disarmed MPAJA as agreed upon previously. MPAJA had hidden weapons and men in the jungle for future use. As mark of appreciation, British recognized MCP as a legal party.

26. 1947, MCP joined AMCJA ( All Malaya Council of Joint Action) against the Federation proposal. Carried out its activities in trade unions and organized strikes. March 1947, Lai Teck disappeared. Leadership taken over by Chin Peng who felt time for militant action to establish a Communist Republic in Malaya. Communist also not happy when the British did not heed their objections to the formation of the Federation of Malaya. Stronger measures needed to achieve their aims

27. Communist strategy -Strikes and anti-British demonstration -Form a guerilla army which would attack tin mines, rubber estates and government buildings aimed at disrupting economic activities. -Would take over areas left by the British as they retreated. -With enough strength, would engage in a war with the British to expel British from Malaya and Singapore.

28. -February 1948, Lau Yew, leader of guerilla army, formed MPABA. Used the hidden confiscated weapons from the Japanese. Build up a force of 3,000 men. -Carried out attacks on rubber plantations and tin mines. Rubber trees, houses, machinery destroyed.3 European planters killed in Perak in 1948

29. Steps taken to overcome revolt -MCP declared illegal -Troops sent into the jungle to stop guerilla activities. Lau Yew was assassinated -24,000 Malay Special Constables trained to guard estates which were barbed. -Leaflets dropped asking communists to surrender and terms of surrender

30. -Emergency Regulation of 1949 invoked whereby individuals found to have any form of contacts with the communists could be arrested without trials. -All individuals to carry identification cards at all times as introduced by the National Registration Department. -Briggs Plan introduced whereby people were resettled in new villages protected by the army. Step to prevent people from being forced by the communists to provide daily necessities. War Executive Committee formed to coordinate and integrate effort at all levels and between all sectors

31. Military operations launched with the help of other commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and Africa. Psychological warfare against the communist which included the relaxing of the conditions for citizenship to attract Chinese support and prevent them from turning to the communist. People encouraged to provide information regarding communist activities for which rewards were given. Amnesty given to those who would surrender within a time frame.

32. Communist retaliation -Set up the Min Yuen to provide food and supplies. Based in the jungle villages. Acted as military intelligence. Assassinated those found cooperating with the British -To gain support, Communist changed the name of MPABA to Malayan Races Liberation Army to get Indian and Malay support. Did not get much support.

33. Briggs Plan 1950-1960 -Sir Harold Briggs as Director of Operations in Malaya. Two parts to the plan. -New villages established. Surrounded by barbed wires and protected by troops and Malay Special Constables. Jungle farmers who were forced to provide supplies to communists and among whom many were Min Yuen members, were resettled in these villages. Protected and communist unable to get supplies.

34. -“Operation Starvation” was conducted. Ration cards issued. Strict control on the sale and transport of food. -There was effective co-ordination between the army, police and local government authorities. Communist Reactions -Changed tactics. Targeted high British officials. High Commissioner Sir Henry Gurney was murdered in Oct. 1951

35. British adopted more drastic action. -Briggs Plan and Operation Starvation continued more strenuously. Federation Police Troops enlarged and reorganized. More troops brought from Commonwealth countries. Crops grown by communist in the jungle destroyed. Helicopters and Hunter Killer Platoons used to attack guerilla positions. Royal Navy guarded the coast. British signed agreement with Thailand allowing British to pursue communists who crossed the border.

36. War Executive Committees set up at state, district and lower levels to discuss and carry out actions against the communists. British adopted a number of measures to win the hearts and minds of the local people. This included -1952 Amendment Bill increasing Chinese citizenship from 15% to 55% and allowed local people to elect their own local council. These were aimed at giving some sense of responsibility and to bring about unity among the people.

37. -Introduced the questionnaire system where local people could provide information on the communists. -The High Commissioner, General Gerald Templer himself visited the new Villages and talked to the people. -Rewards given for capturing or killing of the communists and also given to those providing information about the communists. A reward of $250,000 offered for the capture of Chin Peng

38. Effects of British measures against the communists -Very successful. Many areas declared White Areas (free from communists) which included Malacca in 1952, Perlis, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Trengganu in 1954. Communist were still active in Perak and Pahang. Amnesty offered for surrender but ver few surrendered. Chin Peng offered for a peace talk.

39. Baling Talks 28 December 1955 Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Cheng Lock, David Marshall and Chin Peng met. Unsuccessful. Chin Peng refused to dissolve MCP. Communists became weaker. Many surrendered. Some gave up their activities. They were no more a threat to Malaya.

40. Reasons for British success against communists -British forces very much superior. Well-equipped with modern weapons. Soldiers and officers well- trained and determined to get rid of the communists with their effective measures. More Commonwealth forces brought in. Roads blocks, New Villages, Operation Starvation crippled the communists. Unable to get supply of food and ammunition.

41. British had support of people. 1952 Amendment Bill, New Villages increased citizenship and provided security respectively. Cash rewards for providing information about communists proved effective. Communists who surrendered provided valuable information regarding location of communist guerillas. After independence, Malays did not want the communists who were against religion. Chinese support towards communists reduced because Chinese farmers killed and tortured if they failed

42. To provide food and supplies. Lacked leadership. Chin Peng alone was not enough. Two of their leaders, Lau Yew and Lau Lee, assassinated.