Section 08: Historical Review of Malaysia
"Malayan Anti-Japanese War and Independence Movement: From Japanese Occupation to the Struggle of the People's Power"
On December 8, 1941, Japanese fascists invaded Malaya. The British colonial government was unprepared to resist the Japanese military's invasion, leading to a series of retreats. On February 15, 1942, just ten weeks after the Japanese landed in Kota Bharu, the British surrendered. This marked the end of British rule over Malaya, which had lasted for 156 years. 130,000 British soldiers were defeated by 60,000 Japanese troops. The people of Malaya from different ethnic backgrounds rose up against the Japanese invaders. The Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army was established on January 1, 1942, in Selangor, and subsequently, seven guerrilla units were formed in various states. Throughout the three years and eight months of Japanese occupation, there was determined resistance against the Japanese aggression.
Drafting the "People's Charter" In August 1945, Japan surrendered. The Anti-Japanese Army established a People's Committee which briefly controlled Malaya, maintaining post-war order. A few weeks later, British forces reoccupied Malaya, intending to continue exploiting its abundant resources, especially rubber and tin, and to continue dominating and subjugating the various ethnic groups of Malaya. After enduring three years and eight months of Japanese fascism, the people of Malaya faced poverty, disease, and hunger. However, the return of the British did not improve their basic living conditions; instead, they intensified oppression and exploitation, aiming to salvage Britain's post-war declining economy by plundering Malaya's resources. This brought profound suffering to the people of Malaya.
Post-World War II, people in colonies worldwide rose against colonial rule, demanding independence and autonomy. Anti-French resistance occurred in Southeast Asian Indochina, and Indonesia waged an anti-Dutch struggle. A global wave against colonialism surged. The people of Malaya also stood up for survival and national independence.
Workers, farmers, hawkers, small traders, intellectuals, and middle-class individuals across Malaya began taking action. An alliance of resistance, the People's Power Center (Pusat Tenaga Rakyat or PUTERA) / All Malayan Council of Joint Action (AMCJA), was established in 1946. Member organizations included the Malayan Nationalist Party, Awakening Youth Movement, Awakening Women's Movement, Malayan Democratic Union, British-Chinese Association, Indian National Party, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Ceylon Tamil Association, Singapore Workers' Union, All Malayan Workers' Union, and Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army Veterans Association, among others.
PUTERA/AMCJA drafted the "People's Charter" for Malaya's independence, setting democratic, autonomous principles and the unification of Malaya, including Singapore. Throughout 1947, they organized demonstrations and mass gatherings nationwide, gaining substantial support. Protests culminated on October 20, 1947, with a nationwide general strike that paralyzed all economic activities.
Full-scale Anti-British Warfare Erupts The British colonial government increasingly used oppressive measures against the resistance, deploying military and police to disperse strikes and worker gatherings, and even massacring trade union leaders in incidents like Mei Mong Garden incidant(美农园园区) and the Du Puo Ling( 都柏霖园区) massacre. Despite the intense pressure, imprisonments, killings, and various difficulties, the membership of the Pan-Malayan Federation of Trade Unions continued to grow, comprising 260,598 members, roughly 50% of the total workforce, and controlling around 80% of the trade unions in the country.
In 1947, there were a total of 219 major strikes. Meanwhile, under the leadership of the new secretary-general, Chin Peng（陈平）, the Malayan Communist Party also reviewed its policies of the past two and a half years and concluded that "colonial rule cannot be shaken by peaceful open political struggle; in fact, the British colonial government has consistently employed violent repression against the people's resistance." Thus, the Malayan Communist Party began preparing for armed struggle against the British.
On June 20, 1948, the British colonial government declared a state of emergency and launched a full-scale crackdown on the Malayan people's resistance movement. Under the leadership of the Malayan National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Malayan Communist Party, a comprehensive anti-British warfare was initiated.
From the start, the British deployed 400,000 troops, including forces from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Gurkhas, and East African units, along with the Malayan army and Sarawak Rangers. They even recruited the Iban headhunters from Sarawak to track down the guerrillas. On average, there was one armed personnel for every 15 civilians, and in some areas, the ratio was 1 to 2. The British used 100 fighter planes and helicopters from four Royal Air Force squadrons.
From 1948 to 1960, these aircraft carried out 25,000 airstrikes, dropping 33,000 tons of bombs, launching 100,000 rockets and incendiary devices, and spraying thousands of gallons of chemical toxins.
The Malayan National Liberation Army, also known as the Malayan Communist Party, paid a heavy price as well. During the 12 years of the anti-British warfare, 6,711 people were killed in combat, 226 were executed, and 2,120 were injured. The casualties among civilians were countless.
Neo-Colonialism and Independence The British colonial government also bore a heavy cost, especially economically. It had to spend £550 million annually on maintaining naval, land, and air forces in Malaya, £2 million to protect European planters, and £300,000 to safeguard tin mines, among other expenses.
Unable to sustain the economic burden and military losses, the British colonial government realized that violence and war couldn't subdue the people of Malaya.They shifted their approach and implemented a policy of neo-colonialism, granting independence to Malaya in 1957. However,
they still retained control over Malaya's politics, military, and economic affairs, ensuring their economic interests and continued exploitation of Malaya's rich natural resources. Thus, strictly speaking, Malaya's independence in 1957 wasn't entirely genuine and complete.
The people of Malaya endured 12 years of suffering during the state of emergency and another 12 years of arduous struggle, sacrificing countless lives in the anti-British warfare, which eventually forced British colonialism to grant Malaya independence, although not in its full and true sense. Anyone claiming that Malaya's independence was achieved peacefully, without bloodshed and sacrifice, is making baseless claims.
The 12-year state of emergency from 1948 to 1960 and the anti-British warfare had significant implications for Malaya's politics, society, ethnic relations, and political landscape, and they played a role in the global Cold War context of the time. Even though 70 years have passed, reviewing this history, examining the social conditions of that time, and understanding their shaping influence on subsequent social forms remain significant.
References: "The Land Where Monsoons Meet（季候风相会的土地上）: History of the People of Malaya" by the Editor of Hong Kong- Singapore- Malaysia Research Society( 香港新马研究社编), "Footprints Newsletter Issue 12: Commemorative Special Edition for the 70th Anniversary of the Malayan Anti-British War"