Decolonisation of British Malaya Flashcards
(38 cards)
Anti-colonialism
Anticolonialism refers to the struggle against imperial rule in colonized countries, mostly during the first half of the twentieth century.
Decolonisation
The action or process of a state withdrawing from a formal colony, leaving it independent. In Southeast Asia, this often occured after WWII with the rise of nationalism and a new perspective of home.
Nationalism
A sense of national consciousness of being a seperate community as other nations, identifying with a community of people with shared experience, and are convinced by their shared destiny.
Nation-states
A territory under one government in which citizens are not only an organised political community, but also united by things such as descent, language, culture, history, experiences, and destiny.
Resistance
The refusal to accept or comply with something. Can result in use of force or violence to oppose someone, or an organisation that goes against authority.
Sovereignty
The authority of a state to govern itself and to assume and enact authority within its boundaries.
Independence
Freedom from being governed or ruled by an external force, such as a colonial power.
State of Emergency
A situation of national danger or disaster, which often esults in the government suspending normal procedures, using a temporary system of rules to deal with the situation and regain control.
Insurgency
An active revolt or uprising
Self-determination
Right of a nation or people to determine its own form of government and destiny without external influences
Atlantic Charter
The charter proclaimed the rights of all people to choose their own form of government and renounced the use of force in international relations. Such a proclamation revealed the Western colonialists’ (including the British) understanding that decolonisation was inevitable and that they had to in the near future be obliged to help and prepare the way for such a day.
Myth about European superiority (WWII)
Japanese victory showed locals that western powers were not superior and undefeatable. Showed that Asian country could defeat a European colonial power, encouraging locals.
Rift widened between ethnic groups (WWII)
The Japanese presented themselves as patrons to the Malays, but the Chinese were treated harshly because of the overseas Chinese aid to China where they supported Chinese troops in the Second Sino-Japanese War and WWII. Chinese also showed frequent aggression toward Japanese, for e.g. the MPAJA worked with the British to fend off the Japanese when they invaded.
Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) (WWII)
Resistance army formed by the MCP whose main aim was to liberate Malaya from the Japanese. They had worked with the British to coordinate such efforts, but post-WWII would quickly reorganise themselves against the British as they sought to establish a communist Malaya.
Rise of nationalist groups (WWII)
Malays sent to train in paramilitary organisations, such as the Pembela Tanah Air (PETA) and Kekuatan Rakyat Indonesia Istimewa (KRIS)
Malayan Union Scheme (1946)
Malay states and the settlements of Penang and Malacca would come under a centralised government. Sultans to hand over political authority but retain control over religious matters. The scheme was a point of controversy as many local chiefs and Sultans were “rushed” into signing the agreement after WWII. The British had alleged that such dealings were amicable and “consultative”.
Opposition of Malay Union Scheme (1946-1948)
British direct rule was set up through a central authority, but fears that Malays would lose their special privileges to the Chinese because of citizenship laws quickly arose. The UMNO, which only accepted Malay members, was formed at this time to lead Malay protests against the Malayan Union.
Federation
It refers to a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs.
Federation of Malaya (1948)
Formed in response to opposition against the Malayan Union by locals. Under the Federation of Malaya, political authority was restored back to the hands of the Sultans and chiefs. However, they had to take the advice of the British, who also retained control over defence and foreign affairs. Under this scheme, Malays continued to have automatic access to citizenship and enjoyed privileges while the Chinese had to pass stringent tests (e.g. Malay language and customs).
All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA)
All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA), led by Tun Tan Cheng Lock presenting the MCA, with members from MIC to oppose the Federation of Malaya. These groups were frustrated by the terms of the Federation, which discriminated against minorities.
Malayan Emergency
After WWII, the MCP (or CPM) organised strikes and use of propaganda to achieve their goals. From 1947, the MCP began attacking European mining and estate personnel. 3 estate managers were murdered on 16 Jun 1948, and two days later, a State of Emergency was declared; with the MCP declared illegal. This begins the starting an insurgency that latested 12 years.
Briggs Plan (1950)
A resettlement plan devised by Sir Harold Briggs where Chinese squatters near jungles resettled into New Villages with barbed wire and police posts. This was in response to the guerilla tactics used by the MCP members which made it difficult for the British to overcome. Basic necessities and facilities were built in these villages with the aim of isolating communists. The plan was to stop them from getting supplies etc. and “starve them”, as well as preventing them from receiving information from the locals.
Black area vs. White area
Black Areas and White Areas were created in September 1953 under the direction of Sir Gerald Templer. Black Areas, were areas in Malaya that represented high-risk environments for anti-colonial “terrorist” activity (e.g. Johor). These spatial zones were subject to a variety of repressive government policies, including but not limited to curfews, food restrictions and travel bans. White Areas, however, saw the relaxing of some repressive restrictions enacted under the Emergency orders – mainly curfews and food controls – it was also meant to symbolise to the public the benefits of resisting communism and working closely with the colonial authorities.
Min Yuen
The Min Yuen was the civilian branch of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), MCP. In resisting the British colonial occupation of Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, the Min Yuen was mainly charged with supplying communist revolutionaries with food, information, and medical supplies. Many communist sympathisers worked alongside these official Min Yuen members in the villages.
