We have all been thought in our history lessons that the British practised "divide and rule" tactic during the colonialisation era. Although, it is true to some extent, it is not true completely. In fact, in the years prior to the independence, they were actually working towards uniting the Malayans.
In 1945, The Malayan Union was formed and 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 were living there before 15 February 1942. It faced opposition due to the methods Sir Harold MacMichael used to acquire the Sultans’ approval, the reduction of the Sultans’ powers, and the granting of citizenship to non-Malay immigrants and their descendants.
Then in 1949 Communities Liaison Committee was established, comprising the top Malayan politicians from different communities, to address sensitive issues, especially those related to ethnicity. However, CLC compromised on a number of issues, including citizenship, education, democracy, and Malay supremacy and set the stage for Malayan independence.
Later, the 1951 Barnes report recommended the setting up of one type of school and that vernacular schools be demolished. These schools would use the Malay language and English as their medium of instruction. But this was not accepted by the chinese community. The British gave in and revived Chinese schools.
It was not the British that created the basis of our racial divide but the people themselves who wanted to stay divided. The politicians had further divided the people for their own agenda to stay in power.
One such example is the expellation of Dato’ Onn bin Ja'afar from United Malays National Organization or UMNO. He was disgusted with what he considered to be UMNO's communalist policies, and called for party membership to be opened to all Malayans, and for UMNO to be renamed as the United Malayans National Organisation. However, he too faced opposition internally from fellow politicians which led to his resignation from the party.
Politicians too are to be blamed for the infamous race riots in May,13 1969.
Luckily, today, the people have become a little more sensible. When will the politicians change?
2 comments:
Yes, indeed.
Race based politics was used and is still being used till date to influence and create disunity among Malaysians, so that they could held the monarch, and control it at will.
But now, time has changed and Malaysians are no more living as prescribed by this race-based parties. We, Malaysians, are clear of what we want and what to be done, for our beloved nation's development and prosperity. And we could say the phrase "Malaysia Boleh!" has true implication.
"It was not the British that created the basis of our racial divide but the people themselves who wanted to stay divided"
well said.
and it's not only malays who want to stay divided. ponder over it.
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