GROUP 6 (SSF1033 :INTRODUCTION TO MALAYSIAN SOCIAL HISTORY)

SSF 1033

MALAYSIAN SOCIAL HISTORY

"History is a relay of revolutions"
-Saul Alisky-

GROUP 6| UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK | POLITIC AND GOVERNMENT STUDIES

Introduction
Synopsis

This course explores the social,

political, economic and cultural

transformation of Malaysia and its

impact upon the lives of ordinary people

as it has occurred from pre-history to

the present. Taking a social science

approach, it shall discuss both the

dominant (stereotypical) and alternative

interpretations of Malaysian social

history and in the process illuminate how

history-making occur sand what memory is

preserved in society, and why.

Through this approach, this course hopes

to explain how history and history-

making affects the formation of a

Malaysian social identity, the forging of

a nation-state and the decisions that

ultimately influence the ongoing

processes of social change and

development. Thus, to this end, some key

themes of Malaysian social history shall

also be explored, but not necessarily in

a chronological order.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LU 1 LU 2 LU 3 LU 4

HISTORY AND
THE USES OF
OFFCIAL VS
PRE-HISTORY
SOCIALHISTORY HISTORY MISSINGHISTORY



LU 5 LU 6 LU 7

ANCIENT HISTORY OF TRADE AND ITS CREATION OF
THE MALAY
CONSEQUENCES MODERN SE ASIA
ARCHIPELAGO


LU 10

LU 8 LU 9 MALAYSIAN WOMEN'S
MOVEMENT
POPULATION, ORANG ASLI
IMMIGRANTS LU 13
AND IDENTITY LU 12
MALYSIAN STUDENTS
LU 11 SECRET SOCIETIES MOVEMENT

POLITICS OF THE
LEFT/ LABOUR
MOVEMENT

LU1 : HISTORY AND

SOCIAL HISTORY

# The study of how things change over time is known as history, and it
encompasses all aspects of human society, political, social, scientific,

economic, medical, and military changes are all part of history



# History is also the study of previous events via the gathering,
presentation, and management of data.



# The term "history" may also refer to the amount of time that has
transpired since a written record was created. Professional historians
usually focus on a certain facet of history, a specific time period, a
specific historical approach, or a specific geographic region.

Social science refers to any branch of academic study or science that
deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects. The social
sciences comprise cultural (or social) anthropology, sociology, psychology,
political science, and economics. Many people regard historiography to
be social science, and several aspects of historical research are practically
indistinguishable from social science research. Furthermore, history is a
methodological approach in the social sciences that serves as a backdrop

instrument for analysis.

History vs Historiography

Definition

History is the event or period and the study of it while Historiography is
the study of how history was written, who wrote it, and what factors
influenced how it was written

Nature

History is the study of past events, whereas historiography is the study

of changing interpretations of past events in different historians'

writings. Historiography also looks at how history was written, who

wrote it, and what factors shaped it.

Conclusion

History is the study of the past, especially as it relates to human affairs, whereas

historiography is the study of written history or the study of the writing of history. In

conclusion, the major difference between history and historiography is that history

investigates past events, whereas historiography analyses changing interpretations of

past events in different historians' writings.

HISTORY HISTORIOGRAPHY

History is the study of the past, especially relating Historiography is the study of the written history

to human affairs or the study of the writing of history

When you study history, you study the When you study historiography, you study the
events of the past changing interpretations of the past events in the

works of individual historians- studies how
historians was written, who wrote it and what

influenced how it was written

History & Evidence




The reconstruction of the past has always relied on evidence from
past events. This means that history cannot be written without
evidence, No evidence = No history (does not mean it never existed
or never happened but we cannot record or study it! So effectively,
non-existent!)
Evidences in history is defined as "materials" that provide indicatins
or proofs of the existence of historical events and evidence also
must be checked and verified.
Types of evidence;
1. bones
2. written word
3. oral stories
4. artifacts
5. buried settlements
6. cave art

Social History

Social history is a branch of history that focuses on
social structures and the interactions of various groups
in society rather than state affairs
Social history - Emphasis on evidence about humans or
linked to human society; esp ordinary humans!
e,g. Enviroment data = Climate change = impact on
earth and human society

History & Actors

People are the most common historical actors,
but organisations (including governments),
demographic groupings (such as labourers), and
ideas can also play a role (such as democracy)

History did not just happen
Involved individuals, groups, whole societies
Events happened in specific places and at particular times
Involved men and women; old and young, healthy and sick;
religious and non-religious
Reality: History is multi-dimensional; even cuts across
space and time.
History as Jigsaw puzzle/mosaic: We only know bits and
pieces, we are slowly putting things together.
Problem is: We have been fed/taught only one dominant
version of history - political, state - centred history (aka
Nationalism)
Historical events reflects choices of powerful people and
the powerless

Types of History:
Dominant

Nationalist History: For the sake of nation-building,
frequently incorporating propaganda that invents

our own ‘greatness' and ‘uniqueness;
Stigmas and dominant political narratives are
reinforced (e.g. UMNO and Malays: indigenous vs
immigrants: Sultans as Protectors: Malacca and

Islam: Malaysia Boleh Story).
There is no connection to outside history other than

"fighting against colonialism" and "foreign
domination"

LU 2: The Uses of History

Why Study History

▪︎History helps us to better understand the plesent.
▪︎History provides lessons from the past
▪︎History helps us to develop critical and
▪︎analytical skill

History promotes an awaleness of our

▪︎ancestral heritage
History helps us develop a sense of
national identity

▪︎Wang Gungwu(1968)

1.Remembering one's past but also
understanding that memory bestows power

on those who recall one's past

2.Investigate the meaning of life and death

as a means of comprehending humanity's

place on the planet and their ultimate fate.

LU 2: The Uses of History

▪︎Yong Mun Cheong (2000)

1.It assists us in better understanding the

present.
2.Provides a historical perspective
3.It raises awareness of our ancestors'

history.
4.Recognize how others think and feel about

things.
5.Develop critical and analytical thinking

abilities.

▪︎The important of Perspective Role of History
Evidence & Perspective =
1.To tell the past as it
▪︎Interpretation really was; to be a ‘neutral’
Perspectives change (e.g. The arbiter of the

purpose of
‘facts’.
Colonialism: Civilising mission
2.To tell the everyday

▪︎vs. Exploitation)
story of ordinary people,
Perspectives depend on events and things,

Actor’s position in history
economic history, history of
+ their interests: Victors vs human attitudes, and
Losers; Elites vs
history that went beyond

Proletariat; Ethnic vs Class = national boundaries –
different views Annales School
about memory and
remembering

Post Worl War II: New Nations, New
Countries.

▪︎During World War II, the British made a

pledge to the people of Singapore that they
would defend them. At the end of the day,
they were more concerned with Britain's
defence, which left Singapore vulnerable to
attack by Japanese forces. Our lesson from
the Japanese occupation of Singapore is to
never be so foolish as to put our country's
defence in the hands of others.

▪︎Desire for national identity and national
▪︎unity.

Creation of identity – an “imagined
identity” of what it meant.To be a citizen of

▪︎a country.
Conventional National History – did not
reflect the lives and and struggles of
common people. Too elite focused.

LU 3: Official Vs Missing
History

▪︎History
"Any event, person or artifact that provides evidence of
Malay or Malaysian achievement and progress".

▪︎Pre-independence history
Individuals or movements that resisted British

intrusion into Malaya.

Official History

▪︎Provides framework of understanding for Malaysians
▪︎The official history of a country is frequently taught to citizens


through the medium of a textbook.

▪︎People, events, and actions are selectively (included and excluded)
▪︎Perceives the country from the governmental perspective.
▪︎Official history is a tool employed by the authorities to


communicate specific messages.

▪︎Missing History
The untold facts or untold stories about key historical

▪︎occurrences.
subjects or events from a particular period of history that have

▪︎remained untold
This is the history of one country that no one else knows about,
who was responsible for the events and when did they really take
place, where did the events truly unfold.

example of missing history:-

▪︎Was it a struggle or was it given free by

the British to conservative political forces

▪︎called, the Alliance?
Was struggle for Independence only an

UMNO/Malay struggle?

Lu 4: Pre-history

Archaeology as History

history = written history
but, humans have existed and have
lived long before the invention of
writing (c. 5,000 years ago)
Written history = history of only a tiny
fraction of the human existence

What is Archaeology/Prehistory

Archaeology = a systematic study of the
material remains of human behavior in
the past (Fagan, 1983)
Prehistory = the portion of human
history that extends back before the
time of written documents and archive
(Fagan, 1983)

Prehistory of Malaysia

Malaysia is located in an area that has
produced some of the oldest pre-human
and human fossils known to man.
Excavations in Sarawak's Niah Caves
indicate the presence of very active Stone
Age peoples. The Malay Peninsula was one
of the southern routes taken by prehistoric
peoples who eventually settled in
Indonesia, Melanesia, and Australia.
The most well-known archaeological find in
Lenggong is Perak Man, an 11,000-year-old
human skeletal remains discovered. He
lived between the ages of 40 and 45, and
archaeology discovered that he had a bone
cyst in the right side of his mandible, which
caused infection to spread throughout his
body

Archaeology & Nationalism

Trigger (1984:358) notes that “most archaeological
traditions are probably nationalistic in orientation”
and that nationalist archaeology “is probably
strongest amongst peoples who feel politically
threatened, insecure or deprived of their collective
rights”.
Why do we need a national history?
-To devise a national ideology of unity
-Awareness of our heritage
-Develop sense of national identity-a
common history for a shared national
memory
Out-of-Malaysia theory for development of modern
humans
“The discovery of evidence (stone hand-axe) dated
at more than 1.83 million years at Bukit Bunuh
could propose a new theory to substitute the
present theory (the Out-of-Africa theory)” (Mokhtar
Saidin, 2012: 13)

LLUU 55:: AAnncciieenntt HHiissttoorryy

What is an Ancient History?

An artificial recorded or timeline from the past dismissed as no

longer important or relevant to the present regarding their former

dispute as ancient history. There are many example of the ancient

history of the early kingdoms in Southeast Asia or so called as Malay

Archipelago




The Borobodur Temple

Borobodur Temple was build in 750-

850 AD in Sailendra dynasty which

was reflected as a peak of Srivijiayan

influence with the Mahayan

Buddhist.

Prambanan Temple
The temple was contrasted in 850
AD by either Rakai Pikatan which is
the king of the 2nd Mataran dynasty,
or Bailitung Maha Sambu that
existed during Sanjaya dynasty. This
temple was a belief holder of Para
Brahman.

Angkor wat
The temple was built by Suryavarman
II in the 12th century of AD. The temple
complex itself was fully dedicated to
Vishnu.

Malay Peninsula: From pre-to proto-history

Kuala Selinsing
Archaeologies discovered various of human burials and
artefacts, including pottery, beads. Shells and glassware
which was invented approximately in between the 3rd

century of BC to 11 th century of AD. Carnelian seal
inscribed in South Indian Grantha script which was

assume to be invented in the 5th century of AD.

Cherok Tok Kun
The early Indian presence is also suggested by a site called
cherul Tok Kun in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The Sanskrit

script was created by the South Indian Pallava Grantha
around the 4th -6th century of AD.


Santubong

The infamous in Maritime trade. Gold objects, glass
beads, Chinese ceramics, gold, local iron production,
Hindu-Buddhists objects such like “Tantric” shrine were
developed or oragnised by the traders in 10th -13th century

of AD.

The “Indianization” of Southeast Asia

The founding of Indian kingdoms on mainland or insular
Southeast Asia was founded upon the Indian concept of royalty,
characterised by Hindus or Buddhist cults which was expressed in
Sanskrit language.

Kingship, ceremonial, Administration, language, literature, arts
and architecture, beliefs of religions and practices are contribution
of Indian’s influence on Malay culture.

Mandi Safar
Mandi Safar festival is a
celebration practiced by the
Malays in Penunsular
Malaysia annually on the last
Wednesday of the Muslim
month of Safar. The
ceremonial was take place in
a river or sea around the area
of Tanjong Keling, Melaka.
The purpose of the ceremony
is to clean the spiritual
impurity and to protect
oneself from misfortune

The original ceremony was specifically run as a secular festivity in
order to allow young men and women to meet by fate or to look for
future life partners. This might have been the result of Malay-Tamil
interaction in the past where the term of Safar to Mandi occurred
after the adaptation of Islam especially during the time of the Melaka
Sultanate to make the practice more acceptable to the Islamic society.

LLUU 66:: TTrraaddee aanndd IIttss CCoonnsseeqquueenncceess

Governments and nations struggle to survive in trade. As a result,
whether in the long or short term, contracts and arguments based
on common economic interests are needed to spur development.
Diplomacy is a system of making agreements in economics and
politics to defend the strategic interests of their respective
governments beginning in the 15th century.

Capitalism

Capitalism is a system of economic organization characterized by
private ownership of the means of production and distribution whose
use to achieve profits in highly competitive conditions (Milton, 1990)

Trade and its impact.
capitalism has led to a variety of diversity to understand rights and
tolerance in the work performed.
western powers value contracts that have been ratified and
formalized.
local/malay/bugis emphasize the value of agreements such as the
Sultan's agreement with his people among
Diversity often leads to conflict.

Colonialism and capitalism
The fall of Melaka led to the rise of the Portuguese in Southeast Asia.
But the Portuguese did not hold all the economic and political power
in the area due to the frequently challenged by Aceh, Spain, the
Netherlands, Brunei, Sulu, Johor Kedah and the Bugis mini-
kingdoms

Aceh had directed and controlled the
Red Sea and the Indian Sea which could
redeem the port of Melaka and other
Portuguese in India.
For that reason, the wealth and results
of the Portuguese trade were severely
affected by the Aceh trade. However,
the trade power of Aceh is also
threatened by the trade relations of the
former elite of Melaka in Johor.

Aceh invades Kedah, Perak and Pahang due to the high demanding
for tin and pepper. Then in 1613, Aceh destroy Johor when Sultan
Iskandar Muda from Aceh forced the Johor prince to marry his
daughter. Moreover, Aceh also enslaved numbers of thousands
civilians from Pahang Kedah in order to cope the labour shortage. As
of that, aceh had develop high Islamic civilisation on back of
conquests and slavery.

Everything went well for Aceh political structure but to the civilians,
it felt like a nightmare for them since they struggle to live and
labouring as a slave.

Between the year of 1580s-1630s, occurred the revival of
international trade in Europe, India, China and Japan. In
Europe, Netherlands and British got involve in the global
maritime trade due to the inception of Venice and Genoa which
tried to overthrow Portuguese and Dutch from controlling over
trades and resources. Dutch East India Company (VOC) and
East India Company (Britain) was set up with a purpose to
venture into the New World for “trade”.

However in 1629, Aceh
challenges were defeated by
the Portuguese by ending Aceh
as a regional trading and
political power.

In 1641, Malacca falls to Dutch and now used as a tin Collecting

centre by Dutch who preferred to keep Batavia as the key

regional port.

By the end of 18th

century, the

britisdh in North/

Bay of Bengal and

Dutchh in the

south/ Indonesia

Islands and Indian
Ocean. The new power configuration developed over 200 years

later which brought to the consequences of trade rivalry,

contracts and alliances. The configurations was effectively

meant to decline the Malays to control over the entreport trade

which now passed into the hands of the white capitalist traders.

LU 7: Creation of Modern Se Asia

What are the Creation of New Malay World?
- The Creation of New Malay World are European imperialism, local

politics,
global changes and treaties.



Siam and Northen Malay States (NMS)
- East India Company (EIC) trading interests.
- EIC do not want Thai power extend futher down South. But Malay

rulers always warring among them.



1822
-Rama 111 ascends throne. Expand policies.
-NMS especially Kelantan and Perak look for EIC to against Siam.



1825
-Perak threatened and possibility Selangor beneath Siam.
-The threatened over Selangor affect possibility of EIC investment in
tin mines.

Treaty of 1824 and The Partition of The Malay
World

-Competitive trade between EIC and Dutch
East Indies (VOC).

-Trade interest and competitive pressure cause

development of EIC concept idea "Spheres of Influence" in British diplomacy.



What is Anglo-Dutch Treaty (1824)?
- Divided up SE Asia between British sphere and Dutch sphere.
- Important document that shaped modern Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Peninsula Malay including Singapore ( British interest)
- Islands of South Singapore ( Dutch interest)
- Malacca exchanged for Bengkulen (Sumatera) signal for Europe not

to interfere in this trade areas.



What is EIC - Siam Treaty (1826)?
- Siam agree to not attack Perak or Selangor.
- Kedah beneath Siam while Terengganu ambiguos.
- EIC negotiated to trade in Kelantan dan Terengganu.
- Led to Anglo-Siam treaty 1909. Formal division of sovereignty and land.



How modern Malaya and Thailand was shaped?

Division NMS between Britain and Siam
-Siam: Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkla, Satun and Yala.

-Britain: Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu.
O

What are the effects of political division?
- Resource exploitation, control of trade and Riau-Johor Temenggung

family becomes Sultan of Johor.

LU 8: Population, Imigrants and Ethnic
Identity

Population
- A group of people living in the same area.

The Creation of 'Malay' Ethnicity
Coming of Portuguese, Dutch and British:
-census and classification of group (religion of origin, religion and ethnicity)
-Ethnic categories driven by ideological imperatives.
-British colonial practice, migrated at the high level
1891 census - major structural changes in the classification of the population 
Six major headings, which were ‘Europeans and Americans’, ‘Eurasians’,
‘Chinese’, ‘Malays and other Natives of the archipelago’, ‘Tamils and other

Natives of India’ and ‘Other Races’.
Ethnicity

- An ‘imagined community’; identity changes over time.
Indigenous Peoples

-'Sakai' recognised as a category.
-Jakun was recognised in 1921 census.
-Semang, Jakun and Orang Mantra as "Nomadic Aboriginals".
-Linguistic differences to determine differences between groups.

Immigrants
- Immigrants is people who living in the other country.

LU9 : ORANG ASLI

INTRODUCTION

BEFORE 1960, THE TERM OF “ORANG ASLI” AS AN ETHNIC

CATEGORY DOES NOT EXIST. AFTER THE COMMUNIST


INSURGENCE AND THE MALAYAN EMERGENCY OF 1948-1960,

THE TERM OF “ORANG ASLI” WAS FIRST USED BY THE


COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT GAVE

THE ETHNIC LABEL TO DIFFERENTIATE THEM FROM THE


DOMINANT ETHNIC WHICH WERE MALAY, CHINESE AND THE

INDIAN. DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD, THE GENERIC TERMS

“SAKAI” AND “ABORIGINES” WERE COMMONLY USED TO REFER


TO THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.

KNOWN AS “ORIGINAL PEOPLES” THE EARLIEST

KNOWN INHABITANTS OF THE MALAY PENINSULA,

ARRIVING IN THE PENINSULA AS EARLY AS 25 000


YEARS AGO.



ORANG ASLI LIVED IN WEST MALAYSIA LONG BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF

OTHER GROUPS LIKE MALAYS, CHINESE AND INDIAN.

ORANG ASLI WAS A HETEROGENOUS GROUP AND WIDELY SPREAD IN

ALL STATES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA.

ORANG ASLI HAVE 19 SUB-ETHNIC GROUPS, BUT WERE CLASSIFIED

INTO THREE MAIN CATEGORIES:

The Senoi

LIVE PRIMARILY ON BOTH SLOPES OF THE TITIWANGSA RANGE IN

PERAK, KELANTAN, AND PAHANG (SEMAI AND TEMIAR PEOPLE), IN


CENTRAL PAHANG (JAH HUT AND CHEWONG PEOPLE), IN SOUTH-

CENTRAL PAHANG (SEMOQ BERI PEOPLE), AND IN COASTAL SELANGOR


(SEMAI AND TEMIAR PEOPLE) (MAH MERI PEOPLE).
ABOUT 54 PER CENT OF THE ORANG ASLI POPULATION.

The Negrito

INCLUDE THE KENSIU

(NORTHEAST KEDAH), KINTAK

(KEDAH-PERAK BORDER), JAHAI

(NORTHEAST PERAK AND WEST

KELANTAN), LANOH (NORTH-


CENTRAL PERAK), MENDRIQ

(SOUTHEAST KELANTAN), AND


BATEK PEOPLE (NORTHEAST

PAHANG AND SOUTH KELANTAN),

IN TERMS OF POPULATION,

THE ORANG ASLI ARE THE

SMALLEST OF THE ORANG

ASLI.
THEY ACCOUNT FOR

SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 3%

OF THE TOTAL ORANG ASLI

POPULATION AND ARE

THOUGHT TO BE THE MALAY

PENINSULA'S OLDEST

INDIGENOUS GROUP.
LESS SEDENTARY, MORE

HUNTER- GATHERER


LIFESTYLE

THE ABORIGINAL (PROTO) MALAYS



ABORIGINAL MALAYS ARE PRIMARILY FOUND IN THE PENINSULA'S


SOUTHERN HALF, INCLUDING SELANGOR AND NEGERI SEMBILAN

(TEMUAN PEOPLE), CENTRAL PAHANG AND EAST NEGERI SEMBILAN


(SEMELAI PEOPLE), SOUTH PAHANG AND NORTH JOHOR (JAKUN

PEOPLE), EAST JOHOR (ORANG KANAQ), AND THE WEST AND


CENTRAL COASTS OF JOHOR (ORANG KUALA, ORANG SELETAR).
THE SECOND LARGEST GROUP, ACCOUNTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 43


PERCENT OF THE TOTAL ORANG ASLI POPULATION.
LIVE IN THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AREAS, AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE IS


GENERALLY SIMILAR TO THAT OF RURAL MALAYS.

ORANG ASLI

ALSO KNOWN AS:
• ORANG HULU – PEOPLE OF THE HEADWATERS
• ORANG DARAT – PEOPLE OF THE HINTERLAND
• ORANG LAUT – PEOPLE WHO LIVE BY THE SEA

• BESISI – PEOPLE WITH SCALES
• MANTRA – PEOPLE WHO CHANTED

• ORANG LIAR – WILD PEOPLE,
• PANGAN – EATERS OF RAW FOOD,
• ORANG MAWAS – APELIKE PEOPLE • ORANG JINAK – TAME


OR ENSLAVED PEOPLE.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ORANG

ASLI AND VARIOUS GROUPS:

BEFORE WWII
THE ORANG ASLI PLAYED IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND EVEN


OVERSAW MALAY SUBJECTS AT TIMES (NICHOLAS, 2000: 74-75)
THEY DID, IN FACT, PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF THE


MELAKA EMPIRE IN THE 15TH CENTURY (ANDAYA, 2002).



THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION
THE JUNGLE PEOPLES WERE ALSO USED AS A VEHICLE FOR COMMUNIST


PROPAGANDA.
MPAJA MEMBERS CAREFULLY NURTURED FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE ORANG

ASLI, EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO PROTECT THE JUNGLE PEOPLES FROM


BANDITS AND JAPANESE TROOPS.



THE EMERGENCY
FOLLOWING CENTURIES OF RELATIVE ISOLATION, THEY CAME INTO

SIGNIFICANT AND OFTEN BRUTAL CONTACT WITH WARRING FACTIONS OF


OUTSIDERS.
DESPITE UNFORTUNATE EPISODES AND BITTER EXPERIENCES, THE

EMERGENCY'S ARMED STRUGGLE BENEFITED THE JUNGLE COMMUNITIES


GREATLY.



POST EMERGENCY
1957: THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA DECLARES INDEPENDENCE.
1960: THE YDP AGONG DECLARED THE EMERGENCY TO BE OVER. 3.

NONETHELESS, THE ORANG ASLI REMAIN ONE OF MALAYSIA'S MOST


MARGINALISED GROUPS TO THIS DAY.

Lu10:MALAYSIA WOMEN'S

MOVEMENT(mwm)

mwm NATIONALIST & LABOUR AWAKENINGS

WOM E N TA
IDOONP T E D Men relied on women
THE N O A N D to make up the

SPIRIT OF numbers for rallies
during the anti-
MODERNITY, BUT Malayan Union
campaign.
THEY ALSO

BECAME AGENTS

OF POLITICAL

CHANGE IN

OPPOSITION TO

COLONIAL

CONTROL.

1950S: KHATIJAH SIDEK 1973: AISHAH GHANI
( K A
U M I B U L E A D E R )
FOUGHT FOR GENDER
( W A N I T A U M N O
EQUALITY AND MORE
LEADER) SOUGHT
WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN LEGISLATIVE
UMNO, AS WELL AS AN REVISIONS TO
AUTONOMOUS WOMEN'S
MUSLIM MARRIAGE
WING AND MORE FEMALE AND DIVORCE LAWS,
ELECTION CANDIDATES, BUT BUT WERE MET WITH

WAS EJECTED FROM UMNO OPPOSITION FROM
FOR 'INDISCIPLINE.' THE TRADITIONALIST
RELIGIOUS COUNCIL

AND UMNO YOUTH.



mwm : N O N - M A I N S T R E
A M ( V I O L E N C E

AGST WOMEN CAMPAIGN)

- Malaysia increasing awarenees
Of feminism, sexual oppression And vaW.

- In 1982, Women's Aid orgganization (WAO) deal
With problems of battered women and domestic

violence.

- In 1985, 5 women 's group came 5o together to highlight
And campaign on stopping vaw, formed the joint
action group againts violence women (jag).

- Women's issues seen not as women's issues but
Fundamenttally, discrimination and social
Injustice.

-Hence, emphasis not on welfare or crisis assistance but
more proactive – i.e. raising social awareness about
social inequality and discrimination

LU 11 : POLITICS TO THE LEFT/ LABOUR
MOVEMENT


A B S O L U T E M O N A R C H Y

‘Absolute monarchy’ system was Malay politics before the Western

Colonialism.

Only "Sultan/Raja’s" family and "pembesar" (aristocrats) had

political power.

Based on ‘Daulat’ concept whereas rakyat (people) should show

their loyalty and support the "Sultan".

Sultan/Raja can be defied and overthrown if he humiliated the

people.

- ‘Raja adil, raja disembah, raja zalim, raja disanggah’

COMMUNAL AND NON-

COMMUNAL PARTIES


AFTER 1948

Politics become a struggle

between communal and

non- communal parties.
The communal parties

consist of the UMNO,

MCA and MIC.
The non-communal were

the IMP (which then

called as Parti Negara),

Labour Party, Party

Rakyat, Pekemas, etc
The left wing was in

disarray and divided due

to the detentions and

the Emergency.

Some of the left wing join

UMNO and MCA.

INDONESIA-MALAYSIA

CONFRONTATION 1962

Many The Malayan Peoples

Socialist Front’s leader were


arrested.
- Weaken The Malayan Peoples


Socialist Front.
- Part Rakyat/People’s Party (PP)


withdrew from The Malayan

Peoples Socialist Front.

- The PP’s struggle continued

although being pressured by the


government.

JAPAN INVASION 1942

Released all KKM’s leaders, but

only after the Japanese has

dissolved KKM.

The Japanese did not have any

intention in giving the


independence to Malaya.
Malayan Communist Party (MCP)

formed the Malayan People’s Anti-


Japanese Army (MPAJA).
The British supported this

movement. Several regiments were


formed under MPAJA.
- Pasukan Pembela Tnah Air (PETA)

formed by Ibrahim Yaacob continued


their cooperation with MCP.
- This cooperation started


cooperation between the races in

Malaya.

Unfortunately, in 1945, the

Bintang Tiga Episode (racial

violence) derailed good ethnic


relation in Malaya.
After the war, some Malay leaders


began to work closely with non-

Malay leaders to achieve common


goals.

KAUM TUA (THE OLD) VS. KAUM MUDA (THE


YOUNG)

The Malay left began with Islah (reform) movement

which to Kaum Muda against Kaum Tua.

Kaum Muda began to challenge the Kaum Tua regarding

Islamic affairs.

In 1920s, Kaum Muda movement overshadowed by the

emerging of the Malay Associations.

The Malay Associations began to uplift Malay

living conditions.

Young Malays disillusion towards the influence from

British and Malay Aristocrat on Malay associations.



Therefore, the Malay divide into two wings.

1. Right wing - The Malay Associations.
2. Left wing - The young Malay formed Kesatuan Melayu


Muda (KMM).

LABOUR MOVEMENTS
End of war brought hardship to the living condition


in Malaya.
The restoration of civilian government does not


improve the economic and social conditions of

workers.

The employers more interested in restoring their

businesses and their profits.

AMCJA-PUTERA gained support from the labour

movements and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce

(CCC). AMCJA-PUTERA continued their struggle by

organizing the first hartal in Kelang and Malacca.



- The hartal success causes them in deciding to launch


a country-wide strike.
- On 20 October 1947, All Malaya Hartal planned to be


launched to coincide with the opening of the session

of the British Parliament where the Federation of


Malaya’s agreement were to be tabled and debated.



This situation challenged British authority.
Britain took several measures to counter Left

Movement and Labour opposition to Federation of
Malaya and demands for better working conditions.

LEFT- WING MOVEMENT AFTER 1948

Divided into two types
The armed struggle by the MCP – The “Emegency”

ensured that the MCP’s peaceful struggle failed.


Thus, armed struggle.
Left wing parties that chose to go via the


Constitutional.
The Communist armed struggle did not achieve


their goals, but it did bring big losses to

manpower and incurred huge financial spending


in Malaya.

MALAYAN UNION

The British tried to introduce

more control in Malaya by


announce Malayan Union’s plan.
The MU was not welcomed by the


majority of people in Malaya.
- The MCP saw MU as betrayal of


the promise for democratic

freedoms.

- Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya

(PKMM) demanded the transfer of

government power to local people

based on electoral representation.

POLITICAL REFORMS IN MALAYA.
The British speed up the political reforms in

Malaya. Brought benefit to the alliance party which

are UMNO, MCA and MIC.
The saw this situation as a good opportunity to


negotiate with government.
The Baling Talks 1955 failed because both sides did


not compromise.
Tunku Abdul Rahman as UMNO’s leader and Prime

Minister used this conference for political mileage

to pressure the British for Malaya Independence.

POLITICS OF THE LEFT

Political positions or activities that accept or support

equality, often in opposition to social hierarchy and social


inequality.
The political term “right and left wings” began after the


French Revolution.
- Referred to the seating arrangement in the Estate's General

- ‘Right Wing’ support the monarchy.
- ‘Left Wing’ oppose the monarchy which soon referred to

communism, socialism, the civil rights movement, anti-war


movements and some environmental movement.

POST WORLD WAR II (WWII)

-Several ex-KKM leaders

retreated to Indonesia, but left


movement never faded away.
-MCP become more organized


and stronger.
-MCP and several left Malay


leaders joined hand to

reorganize the nationalist


movements.
-Led to formation of PKMM,

AWAS, API. Barisan Tani Se-

Malaya (BATAS) and Hisbul


Muslimin.

THE 'EMERGENCY’
Many Left Parties


were called as

‘pro-communists’.




THE PEOPLE’S


CONSTITUTION


PROPOSAL

A constitution

constructed by

AMCJA-PUTERA.

TRADE UNIONS/LABOUR POLITICS

After 1948, the trade unions development

in Malaya was retarded.

Estate workers and trade unions faced

problems of poor organization, poor


administration and financial weaknesses.
In 1951, the Malayan Trade Union Council


(MTUC) was formed as non-political

association.

MTUC failed to show dynamism and seemed

to be lack of courage in fighting for the

worker’s rights.

Designed to combat communist infiltration

into organized labour rather than to

promote the interests of labour.

Become weak and ineffective under the

government patronage. Other left wing

groups created several non-communal


parties which fought for all people.
The Labour Party (1955) took a socialist


stand which aimed at nationalizing

industry, mining and estates. The Labour

Party had close links with activist labour


unions.
The People's Party/Parti Rakyat (1955)


favoured granting citizenship to all

domiciled people owing undivided loyalty

to Malaya, no discrimination against any


race, demanded abolishment of the

emergency regulation.

Failed to get mass support at

parliamentary level but get substantial

support at Local Government Level before

the elections for suspended local councils


in1965 and abolished in 1976.

UMNO

The Malay opposition against MU led to UMNO formation.
Combination of mostly the Malay Associations pre-war.
The British divided the Malays and Malaya.

Invited UMNO and the Malay Rulers to discuss the future of

Malaya.

The Leftist groups were left out as they were more radical,

vocal about their demands and not in the line with British


policy on Malaya.
British-UMNO-Rulers working committee was set up and

began to discuss about the formation of the Federation of


Malaya.
Left groups formed new alliance to show their solidarity and


coordinate the opposition towards the British-UMNO-Rulers

working committee which is the Federation of Malaya.

Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM), together with

other Malay organizations formed Pusat Tenaga Rakyat

(PUTERA).

The non-Malay Left groups formed All-Malaya Council of

Joint Action (AMCJA) under the leadership of Tan Cheng

Lock.

AMCJA not only consisted of the political parties, but also

labour unions.

AMCJA-PUTERA began to construct their own version of


constitution called The People’s Constitution Proposal.

LU 12 : Secret

Societies

Objectives and passions


T o p r o t e c t t h e i r m e m b e r s o r c l a n s , h a v e p o l i t i c a l

motives, business interests, religious goals, and

to uphold certain magical beliefs or racist

ideologies.

WHO INVOLVED?
EXCLUSIVE TO CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS.
THE CREATION OF PERSONAL BONDS AMONG ORGANISATION

MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE USE OF SECRET RITUALS OR


RITUALS THAT STRENGTHEN GROUP MEMBERS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE THEIR OWN COMMUNICATION CODE,


WHICH CAN BE WRITTEN OR VERBAL.


S E C R E T S O C I E T I E S

SECRET SOCIETIES HAVE LONG BEEN A GLOBAL PHENOMENON, AND

WHILE THEY ARE NOT NEW, THERE IS A HISTORY BEHIND IT.

WHAT IS SECRET SOCIETIES?
A SECRET SOCIETY, ACCORDING TO B.H ERIKSON, IS A SECRET


ORGANIZATION DEFINED AS A CONTINUOUSLY PATTERNED

SOCIAL NETWORK THAT CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS IN A

RELATIONSHIP SIMILAR TO A SECRET ACTIVITY, EITHER

DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

SECRET SOCIETIES ARE TYPICALLY GROUPS THAT KEEP THEIR

RITUALS AND ACTIVITIES HIDDEN FROM NON-MEMBERS.
SOME ARE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS


DRUG/HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SMUGGLING, KIDNAPPING, AND SO

ON.

HOW ABOUT MALAY/MALAYSIA?

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE PERAK AND KLANG WARS IN SCHOOL?
1. THIS WAR INVOLVED THE TWO MOST POWERFUL CHINESE KONGSI, HAI


SAN AND GHEE HIN.
2. THE TWO KONGSIS FEUDED OVER CONTROL OF THE TIN MINES IN PERAK


AND SELANGOR.
3. MINING. THEIR CONFLICT BECAME A FLASHPOINT IN THE CIVIL WARS IN


PERAK AND SELANGOR. THEY TOOK PART IN BATTLES BETWEEN MALAY

PRINCES IN BOTH STATES.

4. THEN, WITH THE TREATY OF PANGKOR, THE BRITISH ARRIVED TO SOLVE

THE PROBLEM IN PERAK.

5. IN SELANGOR, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WITH TENGKU MAHADI'S

DEFEAT AND THE BEGINNING OF BRITISH INTERVENTION IN SELANGOR.

LARUT WARS

GHEE HIN HAI SAN




SANG NENG HAKKAS TOA PEH KONG HOKKIENS GO KWAN

HO HUP SEAH SECRET SOCIETY CANTONESE

ABDULLAH YUSEF HO SENG SECRET SOCIETY NGAH

TAN KIM CHENG TRIAD LEADER IBRAHIM
FROM SINGAPORE W H READ
I SMAIL CAPTAIN SPEEDY
GOVERNOR OF PENANG

What is "Kongsi"?
The term "gongsi" comes from a


Chinese word.

Referring to "clan hall," which

translates roughly as "brotherhood."

This word should be used to refer to a

charitable organization run by

Chinese. People living in other


countries. The tribal organization and

surname are usually the same.

Used to help clan members, particularly

Chinese immigrants, adjust to life in

Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, North

Borneo, and other places.



Secret Society Origins in Malay
The Chinese secret society originated in


China, in opposition to the Imperial

Dynasty, specifically the Ch'ing


Dynasty - Honman, for example, was

associated with the Heaven and Earth


(Tiandihui) society in Fujian.
Cantonese predominates in Ghee Hin,

whereas Hakka + Hokkien, Teochew,


Foochow, and other dialects

predominate in Hai San.

When Chinese immigrants arrived in

Malaya, they were required to


establish their own clan. Those who

want to join the Chinese secret society


will have to take a blood oath.
Make the temple their focal point for


all of their activities.

The primary objective of the


Chinese secret society in


Malaya/Southeast Asia




Attempt to assist Chinese newcomers in

settling in their

new country.
Help them start a new life in Malaya.

New immigrants or "Singkeh" who come to


Malaya and settle require protection from their


own community.

Assist members in acquiring necessities such as

food, clothing, and marriage.

The vast majority of them are businessmen with

vested interests in the Malayan economy, who


contribute financial and other resources.
They will provide loans to the Chinese


community in order to assist them in starting a

business.

Secret organizations in local affairs and foreign

authorities also represent the Chinese.

The "KONGSI" in Sarawak.

The majority of Hakka gold miners

(Hakka people in Kalimantan and

Sarawak come from four Hakka

districts in Kwangtung province)

The success of miners in

adapting to their new

environment (both


economically and socially)is

due to their border


organization, i.e. share.

To serve as the miners' primary

political and social organization.
A tool for self-government that


meets the economic and social

needs of its members.




Origin of the "Kongsi"
The first mining partnership was

formed between 1743 and 1745.
The mine is run by a team of 10 to

25 people who report to the Malay


Sultan on the coast.
The local sultan saw the Chinese


as a source of revenue and a

monopoly, as well as a means of


controlling supplies, tools,

foodstuffs, and opium.

HAKKA

THE MAJORITY OF HAKKA GOLD MINERS

(HAKKA PEOPLE IN KALIMANTAN AND

SARAWAK COME FROM FOUR HAKKA


DISTRICTS IN "KWANGTUNG" PROVINCE)
THE SUCCESS OF MINERS IN ADAPTING TO


THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT (BOTH

ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY) IS DUE TO


THEIR BORDER ORGANIZATION,
I.E. SHARE.

TO SERVE AS THE MINERS' PRIMARY

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.

A TOOL FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT THAT

MEETS THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS


OF ITS MEMBERS.

1770
UNUSUAL AND PARTIAL RESPECT WAS PAID TO

THE MALAY SULTAN. MALAY DOMINANCE

DECLINED.

THE WORD SHARE BEGAN TO BE USED.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A KONGSI

EACH PARTNERSHIP IS ADMINISTERED INDEPENDENTLY. A PARTNER HAS BEEN

CHOSEN

CLERKS (TS'AI-KU) MANAGE DAILY FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.
A SUPERVISOR (HUO-CHANG) OVERSEES THE LABOUR IN THE MINE.
IN THE SPIRIT OF EGALITARIANISM, SHARED LEADERS LIVE IN SHARED HALLS


WITH MEMBERS.
AS THE NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS GROWS, THEY SEEK TO MERGE TO FORM


FEDERATIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1776, 14 ALLIES IN MONTRADO FORM THE HO-SHUN KONGSI


FEDERATION (FEDERATION OF GREAT PEACE AND HARMONY)