GFPAK 2013

TOPIC 2:
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT POST-WORLD WAR 2
Introduction
• This topic will discusses about the political development of Malaysia
in the post-World War 2 era.
• The sub-topics for this chapter are as follows:
1. Malaysia & the World War 2 era, 1941-1945
2. Evolution of Malaysian Politics, 1946-1956
3. Road to Independence, 1957
4. Formation of Federation of Malaysia, 1963
 2.0 Malaysia & the World War 2
Era
• World War 2 was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945.
• It involved the vast majority of the world’s nations, including all of the great powers,
eventually forming two opposing military alliances, the Allies (USA, Soviet Union, Britain)
& the Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan).
• It was the most widespread war in history & directly involved more than 100 million
people from over 30 countries.
• In a state of ‘total war’, the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, &
scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian &
military resources.
• Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust & the strategic bombing of
industrial & population centres, it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million
fatalities.
• These made World War 2 the deadliest conflict in human history.
 World War 2 Facts
Date: 1 Sept. 1939-2 Sept. 1946
Location: Europe, Pacific, Atlantic, Southeast Asia, China, Middle East, Mediterranean,
North Africa & South America,
Result: Allied victory; collapse of the Third Reich; fall of Japanese & Italian empires;
formation of United Nations (UN); emergence of USA & Soviet Union as
superpowers; beginning of the Cold War era.
Participants: Allies (USA, Soviet Union & Britain); Axis (Germany, Italy & Japan)
Commanders/Leaders: Allied – Franklin Roosevelt (USA), Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union), Winston Churchill
(Britain)
Axis – Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), Emperor Hirohito (Japan)
Casualties & losses: Allied – 61,000,000 (total dead)
Axis – 12,000,000 (total dead)
 2.0 Malaysia & the World War 2
Era
• Throughout much of World War 2 era, Malaysia (formerly known as
Malaya) was under the Japanese occupation.
• The Japanese occupied North Borneo (Sabah), Labuan & Sarawak.
• The Japanese commenced the Pacific war with the invasion of Kota Bharu in
Kelantan on 8 Dec. 1941, nearly an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbour
in Hawaii.
• They then invaded the island of Borneo in mid Dec. 1941, landing on the
west coast near Miri in Sarawak, & completed their invasion by 23 Jan.
1942 when they landed at Balikpapan (Kalimantan) in Dutch Borneo
(Indonesia).
• During the occupation, an estimated of 100,000 people were killed.
 2.0 Malaysia & the World War 2 Era
Political & Administration:
• The 25th army hq at Singapore provided garrison duty in Malaya until Jan. 1944.
• The Second & Third field Kempeitai Units of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group provided military
police & maintained public order in the same manner as the German SS.
• Japanese & Taiwanese civilians headed the Malayan civil service & police during the occupation.
• The structure of Malayan civil service remained similar during pre-war era.
• Many Malays being appointed to more senior positions because of the removal of the British officers.
• Japanese propaganda – Asia for Asians, meant to win support from the local Malays.
• The Japanese worked hard to convince the locals that they were the actual saviours of Malaya while Britain
was portrayed as an emperialist force that wished to exploit Malaya’s resources.
• However, in Nov. 1943, when the Japanese held the Greater East Asia Conference, both Malaya & Indonesia
were excluded as they want to annex both countries.
• The Japanese news agency, Domei Tsushin, was granted a monopoly covering news in Malaya, Singapore &
British Borneo.
• In Jul. 1943, Japanese prime minister, Hideki Tojo, announced that Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan & Terengganu
were to be returned to Thailand as part of the military alliance signed between Thailand & Japan on 21
Dec. 1941. Thailand administrated these states as Syburi, Palit, Kalantan, & Trangkanu provinces from 18
Oct. 1943 until the surrender of the Japanese at the end of the war.
 2.0 Malaysia & the World War 2
Era
Living conditions:
• Recruiting campaigns
• the Japanese undertook recruiting, particularly with the Indian & Malay, both prior to & after the
occupation.
• Prior to the invasion of Malaya, Japanese intelligence officer, Major Iwaichi Fujiwara, had formed
links with several people in Malaya, for eg. Ibrahim Yaacob (Kesatuan Melayu Muda – KMM), a
pro-independence Malay organization.
• On the eve of the World War 2, KMM actively encouraged anti-British sentiment.
• Japanese aid KMM to purchase the influential Singapore-based Malay publication, Warta Malaya.
• Close to the time of invasion, all KMM leaders were arrested & imprisoned by the British.
• After the Japanese invasion, all KMM members were freed, KMM pledge for independence was
turned down by the Japanese, KMM was later disbanded & replaced by Pembela Tanah Air
(PETA), Ibrahim Yaacob was given the rank of Lt. Col. In charge of the 2,000 militia man.
 2.0 Malaysia & the World War 2
Era
Attrocities:
• Once the Japanese had taken Malaya & Singapore, their attention turned to consolidating
their position.
• Feb 1942, Lt. Gen. Yamashita, commander of the 25 th army, ordered anti Japanese
elements within the Chinese be eliminated by execution without trial.
• 70 surviving soldiers of the Malay Regiment were taken out of the POWs holding area in
Singapore to the battlefield & shot to death, some were beheaded.
• Process of rounding up & executing those Chinese perceived as anti Japanese were
commenced in Malaya & Singapore, for eg. Sook Ching massacres, 50,000 or more
Chinese ethnic were killed by kempeitai, so as in several other places throughout Malaya.
• Malay College Kuala Kangsar was used as an interrogation facility by the Japanese.
• The Japanese were also accused of conducting medical experiments on Malayans.
 2.0 Malaysia & the World War 2
Era
Hardships:
• Malaya’s two other major ethnic groups, the Indians & Malays, generally escaped the worst of this
harsh treatment.
• The Japanese wanted the support of the Indian community to invade & free India from British
rule. Indian were also encouraged to assist Japanese war efforts by being labourers, but along
with the Chinese.
• Some 73,000 Malayans were thought to have been forced to work on the Thai-Burma railway, with
25,000 dying.
• The Malays were left to manage their country under Japanese guidance.
• As the war progressed, all three ethnics began to suffer deprivations from increasingly severe
rationing, hyper-inflation, & lack of resources.
• Both the Malay & Indian communities gradually came into more conflict with Japanese prompting
more joining the resistance movement, for eg. Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA),
Malayan Communist Party (MCP), & Force 136.
 2.1 Evolution of Malaysian
Politics, 1946-1956
A. Post-War Context
• Impact of WWII: The Japanese occupation (1942-45) disrupted British colonial rule, leading to a
rise in political consciousness among Malaysians.
• Nationalism: The end of the war ignited nationalist sentiments, as many sought greater self-
governance and independence.

B. Key Political Developments

• Formation of Political Parties:
• UMNO (United Malays National Organization): Established in 1946 to represent Malay interests.
• MCA (Malayan Chinese Association): Formed to address Chinese community concerns.
• MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress): Aimed at representing Indian interests.
• Malayan Union (1946):
• Introduced a new constitutional framework, granting citizenship to non-Malays.
• Faced strong opposition from Malays; perceived as a threat to Malay privileges.
• Federation of Malaya (1948):
• Replaced the Malayan Union; reinstated Malay political dominance.
• Established a more centralized government, emphasizing Malay sovereignty.
 2.1 Evolution of Malaysian
Politics, 1946-1956
C. Political Climate
• Japanese surrendered in Malaya, 1945
• British made a comeback to Malaya & setup British Military Administration (BMA) to stabilize the country.
• United Malays National Organization (UMNO) was founded in 1946 by Malay nationalists led by Datuk Onn bin Jaafar.
• British also established the Malayan Union in 1946 but was dissolved in 1948 & replaced by the Federation of Malaya.
• Meanwhile, the Communist were moving towards open insurrection.
• The MPAJA had been disbanded in Dec. 1945 & the MCP organized as a legal political party, but the MPAJA’s arms were
carefully stored for future used.
• The MCP policy was for immediate independence with full equality for all races.; this meant it recruited very few Malay
while the party’s major strength was the Chinese ethnic.
• March 1947, reflecting the international communist movement ‘turn to left’ as the Cold War set in, the MCP leadership
Lai Tek was purged & replaced by ex-MPAJA guerilla leader, Chin Peng, who turned the party increasingly to direct
action.
• British govt. responded with severe actions by declaring a state of emergency, banning the MCP, arresting its militants,
& led the party to retreat to the jungle & formed the Malayan People Liberation Army (MPLA) with 13,000 men under
arms, all Chinese.
• British declared the first Malayan emergency, 1948-1960.
• British High Commisioner to Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney, was killed in Oct. 1951 by the communist.
• His successor, Sir Gerald Templar, invented the techniques of counter insurgency warfare in Malaya & applied them
ruthlessly.
 2.1 Evolution of Malaysian
Politics, 1946-1956
Rise of Malay Nationalism:
• The establishment of the Malay elite and increased political organization
led to a stronger push for self-governance.

Key Figures
• Dato' Onn Jaafar: Founding leader of UMNO, emphasized unity
among Malays.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman: A pivotal leader in the push for
independence, later became Malaysia's first Prime Minister.
2.2.Road to Independence, 1957
• Malaysian independence was initially led by UMNO which was formed in 1946.
• Meanwhile, Chinese reaction against the MCP was shown by the formation of the Malayan Chinese
Association (MCA) in 1949 as a vehicle for moderate Chinese political opinion.
• Its leader Tan Cheng Lock favored a policy of collaboration with UMNO to win Malayan
independence on a policy of equal citizenship but with sufficient concessions to Malay sensitivities
to ease nationalist fears.
• Tan Cheng Lock formed a close collaboration with Tunku Abdul Rahman who led UMNO after
Datuk Onn in 1951.
• The UMNO-MCA alliance which was later joined by the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) won
convincing victories in local & state elections in both Malay & Chinese areas between 1952 & 1955.
• Key Events Leading to Independence:
(1) 1955 Elections: The first fully contested elections; the Alliance Party (comprised of UMNO, MCA,
and MIC) won a significant majority.
(2) Constitutional Talks: Negotiations with the British were initiated to discuss self-governance.
2.2.Road to Independence, 1957
• Finally, on 31st Aug. 1957, Malaya gained its independence from Britain.
• Celebrations were held marking the official independence of Malaya.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman declared independence, emphasizing unity among all
races.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed as the country’s first prime minister.
• Malay Sultan, Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, was elected as the
first Yang Dipertuan Agong (Head of State).
• From then on, Malaya, was led by an alliance party, comprising of UMNO,
MCA & MIC.
• Significance: A landmark moment that showcased the strength of Malaysian
nationalism and the effectiveness of political negotiation.
 2.3.Formation of Federation of
Malaysia, 1963
• Context for Federation
(1) Post-Independence Aspirations: Growing regional nationalism in Sabah and Sarawak, with desires for inclusion in a
larger federation.
(2) Inclusion of Singapore: Singapore's economic and political concerns prompted discussions of federation.
• The idea for the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia was first proposed by Singapore chief minister, Lee Kuan Yew,
to Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysian prime minister) on Apr. 1961. Singapore at that time was a British colonial state.
• On May 1961, Tunku proposed the idea of Federation of Malaysia which would combine the Peninsular Malaysia,
Singapore, Brunei, Sabah & Sarawak (all were British colonies).
• Formation of Malaysia led to several objections & criticisms from numerous parties, for eg. Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak,
Indonesia & the Philippines.
• Cobbold Commission was formed in 1962 to purposely study these issues & it recommended the formation of Malaysia,
emphasizing economic and social development.
• Indonesia objected, claiming that this idea represented a form of neo-colonialism while the Philippine claimed Sabah as
its territory.
• Indonesia organized a confrontation against Malaysia between 1963 and 1964 known as ‘Ganyang Malaysia’.
• Finally, the Federation of Malaysia came into being on 16 Sept 1963 consisting of Peninsular Malaya, Singapore, Sabah &
Sarawak.
 2.3.Formation of Federation of
Malaysia, 1963
• Impact of the Federation
• Political and Social Implications:
• Aimed to foster unity among diverse ethnic groups.
• Created a federal structure with shared powers between the central and state
governments.
• Challenges:
• Tensions arose over political representation and resource distribution.
• The eventual expulsion of Singapore in 1965 due to political strife and
economic disparities.
 Conclusion
• The period from 1945 to 1963 was crucial in shaping Malaysia's political
landscape.
• The evolution of political parties, the road to independence, and the formation of
the Federation of Malaysia set the foundation for contemporary Malaysian
governance.
• Understanding these historical developments is essential for analyzing current
political processes and administration in Malaysia.
 Discussion Questions
• What were the key factors that influenced the rise of nationalism in Malaysia
post-WWII?

• How did the political landscape change with the formation of the Federation of
Malaysia?

• In what ways do the events from this period continue to shape Malaysian society
and politics today?