Excerpt from Dr. Jeyakumar's letter.....
Let me cite a few historical facts -
Let me cite a few historical facts -
(i) Following WWII, all the left-leaning groups partook in open politics, asking for early Independence. They were part of the AMCJA-PUTERA coalition. Rashid Maidin and Abdullah CD were in unions affiliated to the PMFTU (Pan Malaysian Federation of Trade Unions) which was a major component of the AMCJA. The AMCJA-PUTERA coalition came up with the ‘Peoples Constitution’ in Feb 1947 which the British ignored. This group organised the Hartal of August 1947. A Hartal is a nonviolent General Strike where not only workers do not go to work, but businesses do not open and schoolchildren do not go to school. The August 1947 Hartal brought all economic activity to a halt for a day, but it did not result in the commencement of negotiations with the Colonial Government that the AMCJA-PUTERA Coalition was hoping to bring about. All this goes to show that the initial intention of this coalition was not armed struggle but political mobilization utilising legitimate democratic avenues.
(ii) It is also a historical fact that the Colonial regime reacted harshly against the AMCJA-PUTERA coalition long before the start of the armed rebellion in June 1948. Some examples
- Ahmad Boestaman, the charismatic leader of API (Angkatan Pemuda Insaf), a component of Putera, was arrested in 1947 and detained for 8 years.
- A new Trade Union ordinance was passed in 1947 and this led to the de-registration of 85% of the component unions constituting the PMFTU. They were all required to register. However, when they attempted to register, they were turned down and thus rendered “illegal”. The PMFTU itself could not get registered.
- The ‘thondar padai’ (anti-toddy activists) faced harsh aggression. Beatings by the colonial police actually led to deaths among anti-toddy activists picketing at toddy shops in Kedah (see the account in Colin Abraham’s book, ‘Their Finest Hour’).
- Estate union activists planning for May Day were attacked by the police – their chairman was shot dead (see Colin Abraham)This was the backdrop against which the MCP made the decision to switch to an armed struggle in Jun 1948. A strong argument can be made that the MCP was pushed by the colonial regime to take the course they did! The 3rd historical fact that one has to look at carefully is the Baling Talks in 1955. Chin Peng and Rashid Maidin were prepared to lay down arms at that time for the guarantee that they could participate in the democratic process in Malaya. Tunku and especially David Marshall took a hard line position –‘surrender and submit to preventive detention. We will decide when you can participate.’ It is now clear that the British had indicated in no uncertain terms to Tunku that Independence would only be granted if the MCP was kept out of the political process! Malaya remained an important source of wealth for Britain even after Independence! The MCP finally got what it asked for in 1955 – withdraw with dignity - in 1989! The jungle war could have come to an end when the country won Independence. But the British wanted the Malayan Communist Party kept out of the political process, and the Alliance Government went along with that game plan. If one is to be strictly objective, all the injuries and deaths arising from the jungle war from 1955 onwards cannot be attributed entirely to Chin Peng and the MCP. The Alliance through Tunku and the British also played a vital role in perpetuating the jungle war that everyone knew the MCP could not win. It is on the basis of these analyses of our nation’s history that the PSM perceives the MCP leaders as “Pejuang Merdeka’ or Freedom Fighters. They took on the most powerful colonial power of that time. They were committed to the building of an independent and just society in Malaysia. So, even though PSM itself rejects the ‘Armed Struggle’ option as a route to political power, we consider the leaders of the MCP as Independence Fighters.
However, although our perception of the MCP and its leaders is quite different from BN propaganda, the PSM does not consider the rehabilitation of the name and image of the MCP as one of PSM’s priorities. Yes, history has to be re-assessed and, yes, the struggles of the past have to be accurately understood, but some of the wounds left by the armed rebellion are still raw and there are far more important things to do with/for the Malaysian Marhein here and now – the ordinary people of Malaysia are being pressured by neoliberal policies that hold down wages while increasing the costs of all necessities. There are many estate communities and urban pioneer communities which are being threatened with eviction. ...........
Dr. Jeyakumar is PSM Central Committee Member as well as PSM’s member of parliament.
(ii) It is also a historical fact that the Colonial regime reacted harshly against the AMCJA-PUTERA coalition long before the start of the armed rebellion in June 1948. Some examples
- Ahmad Boestaman, the charismatic leader of API (Angkatan Pemuda Insaf), a component of Putera, was arrested in 1947 and detained for 8 years.
- A new Trade Union ordinance was passed in 1947 and this led to the de-registration of 85% of the component unions constituting the PMFTU. They were all required to register. However, when they attempted to register, they were turned down and thus rendered “illegal”. The PMFTU itself could not get registered.
- The ‘thondar padai’ (anti-toddy activists) faced harsh aggression. Beatings by the colonial police actually led to deaths among anti-toddy activists picketing at toddy shops in Kedah (see the account in Colin Abraham’s book, ‘Their Finest Hour’).
- Estate union activists planning for May Day were attacked by the police – their chairman was shot dead (see Colin Abraham)This was the backdrop against which the MCP made the decision to switch to an armed struggle in Jun 1948. A strong argument can be made that the MCP was pushed by the colonial regime to take the course they did! The 3rd historical fact that one has to look at carefully is the Baling Talks in 1955. Chin Peng and Rashid Maidin were prepared to lay down arms at that time for the guarantee that they could participate in the democratic process in Malaya. Tunku and especially David Marshall took a hard line position –‘surrender and submit to preventive detention. We will decide when you can participate.’ It is now clear that the British had indicated in no uncertain terms to Tunku that Independence would only be granted if the MCP was kept out of the political process! Malaya remained an important source of wealth for Britain even after Independence! The MCP finally got what it asked for in 1955 – withdraw with dignity - in 1989! The jungle war could have come to an end when the country won Independence. But the British wanted the Malayan Communist Party kept out of the political process, and the Alliance Government went along with that game plan. If one is to be strictly objective, all the injuries and deaths arising from the jungle war from 1955 onwards cannot be attributed entirely to Chin Peng and the MCP. The Alliance through Tunku and the British also played a vital role in perpetuating the jungle war that everyone knew the MCP could not win. It is on the basis of these analyses of our nation’s history that the PSM perceives the MCP leaders as “Pejuang Merdeka’ or Freedom Fighters. They took on the most powerful colonial power of that time. They were committed to the building of an independent and just society in Malaysia. So, even though PSM itself rejects the ‘Armed Struggle’ option as a route to political power, we consider the leaders of the MCP as Independence Fighters.
However, although our perception of the MCP and its leaders is quite different from BN propaganda, the PSM does not consider the rehabilitation of the name and image of the MCP as one of PSM’s priorities. Yes, history has to be re-assessed and, yes, the struggles of the past have to be accurately understood, but some of the wounds left by the armed rebellion are still raw and there are far more important things to do with/for the Malaysian Marhein here and now – the ordinary people of Malaysia are being pressured by neoliberal policies that hold down wages while increasing the costs of all necessities. There are many estate communities and urban pioneer communities which are being threatened with eviction. ...........
Dr. Jeyakumar is PSM Central Committee Member as well as PSM’s member of parliament.
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