Opposition to British Colonial Rule in Malaya after 1945
TITLE
Evaluate the strength of the opposition to the re-establishment of British colonial rule in Malaya after 1945.
ESSAY
The opposition to the re-establishment of British colonial rule in Malaya after 1945 was significant and multifaceted. The Malayan Union Constitution published in 1946, which aimed to consolidate British control over the region, faced strong resistance from various factions within the population.
One major source of opposition stemmed from the provisions of the Malayan Union Constitution. It aimed to remove restrictions on citizenship, thereby allowing non-natives to become citizens. This move caused alarm among the native population, who feared losing their cultural identity and political influence. The lack of consultation further exacerbated these concerns and led to widespread opposition.
Dato Onn bin Jaafar, who became the first president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in 1946, spearheaded a policy of non-cooperation with the British proposals. UMNO mobilized Malay nationalists and effectively rallied support against the British plan. The British, concerned about escalating tensions, eventually yielded to the opposition's demands.
The formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948 represented a compromise between the British and the local population. While it granted Malaya a degree of self-government, the British still maintained control. However, this compromise did not satisfy the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), which rejected British rule and launched an armed uprising to establish a Communist Republic of Malaya.
The MCP employed various tactics to challenge British authority, including guerrilla warfare, strikes, and attacks on key economic targets such as tin mines and rubber plantations. This resulted in a State of Emergency being declared in 1948, with the MCP being declared illegal. The MCP's use of terror tactics created fear and hatred among the people, further fueling opposition to British colonial rule.
To counter the communist threat, the British implemented the Briggs Plan in 1950. The plan aimed to isolate the communists from the local population by relocating villagers to fortified settlements surrounded by barbed wire. Additionally, "Operation Starvation" sought to disrupt the communist's food supplies by rationing cards. These measures weakened the communists' ability to sustain their armed campaign.
Further weakening the MCP was the implementation of psychological warfare by General Sir Gerald Templer, who replaced Sir Henry Gurney as High Commissioner. Templer emphasized unity among the various races in Malaya and offered rewards for information leading to the capture or killing of communists. These approaches, alongside military operations, gradually eroded the MCP's strength.
While the opposition to British rule continued, significant political developments were also taking place. Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Chief Minister, offered amnesty to communists who surrendered, and elections were held in 1955 where the Alliance, a coalition between UMNO and the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA), secured a landslide victory. These political maneuvers demonstrated growing support for self-governance and independence.
Ultimately, Britain honored its promise of granting independence to Malaya after a period of preparation. Independence was achieved on August 31, 1957, marking the end of British colonial rule in Malaya.
In conclusion, the opposition to the re-establishment of British colonial rule in Malaya after 1945 was formidable and multifaceted. Native populations, led by the likes of Dato Onn bin Jaafar and UMNO, vehemently resisted British proposals that threatened their cultural identity and political influence. Simultaneously, the MCP launched an armed rebellion against British rule, employing guerrilla warfare and terror tactics. However, through a combination of military operations, the implementation of strategic plans such as the Briggs Plan, and the assertion of psychological warfare strategies, the British gradually weakened the communist opposition. Amidst this opposition and the changing political landscape, Britain ultimately granted Malaya independence in 1957.
SUBJECT
HISTORY
PAPER
A Level
NOTES
Evaluate the strength of the opposition to the re-establishment of British colonial rule in Malaya after 1945. With the end of the Japanese occupation, the British returned to Malaya; they published the Malayan Union Constitution in January 1946. Singapore was to become a separate British colony while Penang and Malacca were to join the nine Malay states to form the Malayan Union; citizenship would no longer be restricted to natives which, together with the lack of consultation, aroused much opposition. In March 1946, Dato Onn bin Jaafar became the first president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and began a policy of non-co-operation with the British proposals. The British, fearing more violent action, relented. The Federation of Malaya was formed on 1 February 1948. The most significant change was qualification for citizenship; all citizens had to have an adequate knowledge of Malay or English, agree to reside permanently in the Federation and swear an oath of allegiance to it. Malaya had achieved a degree of self-government, but the Federation was still under the control of Britain. The Malayan Communist Party (MCP) would no longer accept British rule and began an armed uprising against the British. The communist threat proved to be a protracted one lasting from June 1948 until July 1960. Chin Peng took over the leadership of the MCP in 1947 aiming to forcibly drive the British from Malaya and establish the Communist Republic of Malaya. Strike action, anti-British demonstrations and a guerrilla army were used to disrupt the economy by attacking tin mines, rubber plantations and government buildings. This resulted in the declaration of a State of Emergency by Sir Edward Gent on 19 June 1948; the MCP was declared to be illegal. The MCP used terror tactics and created fear and hatred in the people. However, Sir Harold Briggs, Director of Operations in Malaya, drew up the Briggs Plan which aimed to stop the contact between the jungle farmer and the communists. He established ‘new villages’, settlements surrounded by barbed wire and protected by troops, and introduced ‘Operation Starvation’; the people were issued with ration cards making it difficult for the communists to maintain their food supplies. The MCP abandoned its terror tactics but targeted leading enemy figures instead. In October 1951, Sir Henry Gurney, the High Commissioner was murdered. By 1954 the communists were becoming weaker, and parts of Malaya were free of communism. Gurney’s replacement, General Sir Gerald Templer, used psychological warfare to win ’the hearts and minds’ of the people. He tried to unite the different races by urging racial unity. He gave rewards for killing, capturing, or informing on communists. In 1955 Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Chief Minister, offered amnesty to communists who surrendered but the Baling Talks in 1955 failed to establish peace. Chin Peng offered to negotiate in 1957 but his offer was rejected as he refused to disband the MCP.Britain stuck to its promise of 1948 that independence would be granted in
Malaya after a period of preparation; Templer called elections in 1952 for
local governments and town councils. UMNO and the Malayan Chinese
Association (MCA) stood together as an alliance. The British then agreed to
set up a Legislative Council with 52 elected members and in the 1955
elections the Alliance won a landslide majority. Rahman flew to London on
the Merdeka Mission and the British government agreed that independence
should be granted on 31 August 1957.