The present multi-racial
character of the country is the direct result of British economic policy before
the war which encouraged mass non-Malay immigration. The Chinese and Indian
immigrants, during that time, were regarded as transient workers and their flow
into the country, and departure, fluctuated with Malaya's economic fortunes.
However, they became settled communities in the country by the fourth decade of
this century. Malaya's vast economic potential and the liberal, tolerant
attitude of the Malays, exploited by the colonial government, caused an influx
of Chinese and Indian immigrants, and mass immigration continued until the
thirties.
A striking
feature of the Malayan society at that time (which continues today, slightly
abated) was the voluntary cultural segregation—while the Malays lived in a
cultural milieu that institutionally continued in a local context, there was no
effort made by the colonial authorities to orientate the increasing number of
immigrant races towards local institutions. For the most part, the immigrant
races were administered independently and led an independent existence. This
partly explains some current attitudes among certain sections of the non-Malay
communities, and the difficulties experienced today in nation-building.
[1]
The Chinese in
Malaya were not without "political consciousness". Such political
interests that moved many of them were, however, externally inspired. They
played a pan in. and contributed substantially to. like most Nanyang Chinese of
the time, the 1911 Revolution in China. In 1912. the Kuomintang established a
branch in Malaya. Shortly afterwards, other branches mushroomed. but they all
went underground a few years later because of opposition from the colonial
authorities. After 1923. the Kuomintang organisation fell under strong
communist influence and by 1926 the volume of Chinese revolutionary propaganda
in Malaya was found to have increased considerably. Kuomintang activities in
Malaya reflected strikingly the developments in China.
The year 1927
saw Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek puree the communists from the ranks of the
Kuomintang. This led the communist extremists in Malaya, With the assistance of
five representatives of the Chinese Communist Party who landed in Malaya at the
end of 1927. to break away from the central body and form an organisation of
their own.
This was an important step, indeed a
landmark, in the development of the Chinese-dominated Communist Party in
Malaya.
During the
inter-war period, the Malays began to realise that the large numbers of
immigrants, linked with British economic interests, were having adverse
[2]
effects upon the Malay political
position. The authority of the Sultanate was being gradually eroded in the
interest of a more central administration. However, Malay nationalism before
the Second World War lacked popular support and was not effective because of
the provincial attitude of most Malays then. Real political awakening for the
Malays came after the war.
[3]
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