PROGRESS TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE

The Emergency interrupted Malaya’s progress towards independence. However, General Templer ad later, the Malayan leaders introduced many steps to defeat the terrorists and obtain self-government for the people.
General Templer gave the people greater protection, and more social and welfare services. He encouraged them to do things for themselves and to take part in the fight against the Communists. He encouraged them to cooperate with each other. In this way he caused Malayan nationalism to grow. General Templer realized that Communism would fail if Malayan nationalism were encouraged.
The Communist themselves helped the people to develop a Malayan nationalism. The Communists had attacked and murdered people of all races in the country. This caused all the races to unite to fight against the Communists.



DEVELOPMENT OF NEW POLITICAL PARTIES


THE MALAYAN CHINESE ASSOCIATION

In February 1949 Tan Cheng Lock formed the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA). It was really formed to unite the Chinese against the Communists. The MCA also gave welfare and social services and amenities to the New Villages. The Communists hated the MCA and even killed some of its members. They wounded Mr. Tan Cheng Lock during a meeting of the MCA at Ipoh.
Under the leadership of Tan Cheng Lock, the MCA won much popularity among the Chinese. Later it was to work together with UMNO and win much support from the people.


THE MALAYAN INDIAN CONGRESS

In 1946 the Malayan Indians formed the Malayan India Congress (MIC) to safeguard their interests.


THE INDEPENDENCE OF MALAYA PARTY

Meanwhile Dato Onn tried to make the UMNO into a national party. He proposed that all races should be allowed to become members of the UMNO. The UMNO refused to accept his proposal so he left it in 1951. He then formed a new party called the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP).


TENGKU ABDUL RAHMAN SUCCEEDED DATO ONN

Tengku Abdul Rahman, uncle of fifth Yang diPertuan Agong (the present Sultan of Kedah) succeeded Dato Onn as President of the UMNO. Tengku Abdul Rahman was born on 8th February 1903. He entered the Kedah state civil service in 1931. He became a lawyer in 1949.
Dato Onn wanted a United Malaya. He wanted the powers of the Sultans to be reduced, common citizenship for all and admission of Chinese and Indians into the administration. Dato Onn received very little support from the Malays and Chinese. They continued to be members of the UMNO and MCA. Only the MIC supported the new party (IMP) set up by Dato Onn.


THE PARTY NEGARA

During the beginning of the Emergency Dato Onn stopped the activities of the IMP. However, by 1951 the party began to carry out its work again. The IMP was not a success. In 1954 Dato Onn established another party – the Party Negara which also included members of all races.


THE MEMBER SYSTEM

While the political parties were developing, the British were also preparing Malayans for self-government and parliamentary democracy.
In 1951, the “Member System” of government was introduced into the Federal Legislative Council. Nine Malayans were made members or ministers of various departments. They were to be responsible to the High Commissioner. Dato Onn became the Member for Home Affairs, Dato Thuraisingham became the Member for Education, and Tun H.S Lee became the member for Health. Thus local leaders were given experience in governing the country.
Changes were also made in the citizenship laws in 1952. Chinese and Indians who were born in Malaya and were willing to become loyal subjects of the Sultans would be given citizenship. As a result another 250000 non-Malays became citizens.




THE ALLIANCE

THE FORMATION OF THE ALLIANCE

Elections to the local councils were first held in 1952. The first important elections in Malaya were the Kuala Lumpur Municipal elections in February 1952.
For the first time the Malay and Chinese parties, the UMNO and MCA cooperated against candidates from other parties. The two parties won nine out of the twelve seats. They then cooperated in the Johore Bahru, Muar and Malacca elections. They were very successful.
By then they had established themselves as the UMNO-MCA alliance. In 1955 the MIC joined the UMNO and the MCA because the IMP was dissolved. They then became known as the Alliance Party. Tengku Abdul Rahman became the leader of the party.


THE FIRST FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Meanwhile the Emergency had improved. The Alliance now aimed to establish a sovereign and independent country within the Commonwealth. The political partnership strengthened them so the Alliance began to ask for elections to the Federal Legislative Council. The British finally agreed to let 52 out of the 98 seats be elected.
The first Federal elections were then held in 1955. The Alliance was opposed by Party Negara and the Pan-Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP). The PMIP was led by Dr Burhannudin. The Alliance won 51 out of the 52 elected seats. The PMIMP won the other seat. Tengku Abdul Rahman became the Chief of Minister and Minister for Home Affairs. The other Alliance leaders were made Ministers and official civil servants.


THE BALING TALKS (II)

Led by the Tengku a meeting was held with Chin Peng to end the Communist rebellion. It was a failure. During the meeting, however, Chin Peng promised that the MCP would lay down their arms if the Tengku obtained independence for Malaya. The Alliance was therefore determined to get “merdeka” or independe for Malaya.



THE MERDEKA MISSION

The Tengku and the Sultans had earlier held talks with the British Secreatary of State for the Colonies in August 1955. The Secretary of State was visiting Malaya at that time. As a result of these talks, Tengku Abdul Rahman led the “Merdeka Mission” to London in early 1956.
A conference was held to discuss the independence of Malaya. It was attended by representatives of the Sultans, three other Alliance leaders, the High Commissioner, Sir Donald MacGillivray, members of his staff and advisers to the Colonial Office. They discussed Defense and Internal Security, Financial and Economic Matters, the Civil Service and the Constitution. The Merdeka Mission also asked the British Government to give independence to Malaya as soon as possible.
The Merdeka Mission was a success. The British Government agreed to give independence to Malaya by 31st August 1957.