WRITTEN BY CHEAH BOON KHENG, CPI 

Introduction by CPI

“But what began to aggravate and worsen ethnic relations in the early 1930s was a series of ‘pro-Malay’ policies, which the British initiated to help Malays cope with the economic depression and to meet the demands of rising Malay nationalism based on treaty obligations.”

This statement extracted from the article below should lead us to ask whether our leaders are repeating history and why they are not learning from the mistakes of history.

During the period of colonial rule in Malaya, the British favoured themselves and other whites first and foremost, and Malays second in their policies.

As ‘protectors’ of the Malays, the British created various policies that were anti-Chinese. Most non-European residents were either workers or poor. Since the various races were in different sectors and not in direct competition with each other, ethnic conflict was kept under the lid.

As the economic depression intensified, the British rulers found it easier to resort to race-based solutions rather than deal with the real causes and issues.

Today, as the global economy and its fluctuations impact on us, will race-based policies again rise to the fore? 

The following essay by Dr Cheah Boon Kheng was published in the book Multiethnic Malaysia – Past, Present and Future under the title ‘Race and Ethnic relations in Colonial Malaya during the 1920s and 1930s’. CPI with permission from the author is carrying it here in two parts.

Dr Cheah is visiting professor at the National University of Singapore. He was previously history professor at USM, and has been visiting professor at the Australian National University and ISEAS. He is also author of several books.

READ MORE HERE 

Comments (3)

...
written by NSTPravda, February 11, 2010 19:41:56

We wonder why we always blame the Brutish Colonials for the bad things happening now?

We should be more up to date and blame the Brutish UMNO colonials instead...

Try this at home:
Insult a judge a day
To feel $emua-nya OK!

• 
• +2
• 
• 

...
written by temenggong, February 11, 2010 10:30:52

Let us wait for Part 2 of this article before making any judgement. While it is good I was not sufficiently impressed. I feel the writer is holding back. There were so many other factors at play.

• 
• +3
• 
• 

...
written by Obadiyah, February 11, 2010 08:03:24

Let's not also forget how the Japanese mercilessly decapitated the Chinese and displayed their heads n street corners, while employing the Malays to be their Kempetai Spies. This was also "reinforcing" the myth that one race is "superior" to another.

Anyone wants to step forward with those stories as well? How many of us were Kempetai Spies? Or who knew of their relatives alluding that role?

• 
• +10
• 
•