THE GROWTH OF NATIONALISM

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THE GROWTH OF NATIONALISM

• Japanese occupation contributed to the
  development of nationalism in Malaya because the
  different treatment to different races made them
  realized that they themselves should shape their
  life - not foreign power.
• Even Japanese was defeated but their propaganda
  preached by them - Asian unity and the expulsion
  of Europeans had stirred up nationalist feeling.

2
MALAYAN UNION

• After Japanese surrendered, British army came
  back and tried to govern Malaya named British
  Military Administration (BMA).
• BMA faced problem when their administration
  was disturbed by MPAJA -those group wanted to
  take over the administration.
• BMA was dissolved and British introduced new
  administration named Malayan Union
• Malayan Planing Unit proposed that Singapore
  separated but other states of Malaya should be
  combined in one single administration unit.

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WHAT WERE THE CONTENTS OF M.U?

• 1-Singapore was to become a separate
  colony with its own governor.
• 2- Penang Malacca joined the
  nine Malay states to form M.U - under governor
  with the help of executive council and
  legislative council.
• 3- Sultans were to keep authority over religious
  matters but would lose all other political powers.

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4- All citizens of the new M.U would have
equal right- including admission to
administrative civil service.

• 5- Citizenship would no longer be restricted to
  natives, it was to be opened to all without
  discrimination to race or creed.

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WHY DID BRITAIN PROPOSE THESE CHANGES?

• 1-To unite all Malay states.
• - Malaya had 3 systems of administration -
  Straits settlement, Federated Malay States and
  Non federated Malay states.
• 2-To make Malaya stronger
• -Important that the new country be able to defend
  itself against internal opponents and outside
  powers.
• - must have stable and effective admin.

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3-To protect their own interest

• British had a great investment in Malaya
  -make sure economic growth in Malaya -
  efficient system of Government must be
  introduced.
• 4- To ensure future political stability.
• - British felt that citizenship should be given
  to non Malays to ensure political stability.
• - Their important of their economic life should
  be rewarded by giving equal right.

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WHY DID THE SULTAN ACCEPTED THE CHANGES ?

• - proposal on M.U - protested
  from Malays and many of
  them could not understand why the
  Sultan had agreed to them.
• Sultan of Kedah describing Mac Micheals use of
  threat
• I was presented with a verbal ultimatum with a
  time limit, and in the event of my refusing to
  sign the new agreement. a successor who would
  sign it, would be appointed sultan

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WHY MALAYS OPPOSED MU

• 1- Lack of consultation over the proposal
• - lack of time to discuss the proposal among
  themselves or took advice from
  their states councils.
• 2- Proposal for more liberal citizenship.
• -immigrant in Malaya according to the Malays -did
  not give their first loyalty to Malaya but loyal
  to their origin country. Due to dual citizenship
  allowed in the MU constitution.

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• 3-Sultans lost their powers.
• 4-Existing special right and privileges of Malays
  would be lost.

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The failure of the Malayan Union

• 1- Strong opposition from the Malays
• 2- No strong support from the non-Malays because
  it excluded Singapore
• 3- Wrong timing communal feelings and hostility
  still existed between the Malays and the Chinese.
  Condition in Malaya was not really peacefull.
• 4- Wrong introduction the constitution was
  drawn up in London without taking into account
  the situation and wishes of the people in Malaya.
• 5- Opposition form former British administrators
  in Malaya. They urged the British to protect the
  interests and special rights of the Malays