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https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ Theses Digitisation: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/digitisation/ This is a digitised version of the original print thesis. Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten: Theses https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] MALAY NATIONALISM REFLECTED FROM NEWSPAPERS 1900 - 1920' s. MOHAMAD IDRIS SALEH DEPARTMENT OF MODERN HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW« <M. Litt) 1989» ProQuest Number: 10970867 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10970867 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Malay Nationalism Reflected From Newspapers 1900 - 1920's. Contents A c k n o w 3. edgeme n t i Abstract ii 1 „ Malay Society up to the 'British Intervention 1 The Malay Economy 8 The Malay Political System 11 E*r i t i sh I n terven t i on 21 21. The 0 r i g i n of Ma 1 ay Na t i on a 1 i sm up t o Independence 32 3. Religion 59 4. Eld uc a t :i. on 8 7 5« Economy 113. 6. Politics 13f$ 7. Summary and Conclusion lS'J 8. Bibliography 1&7 Mapss Nineteenth Century Malaya 20 British Malaya 27 Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah & Sarawak 58 Acknowledgement I wished to express my spec ia 1 thanks to Prof essor l<. G. Robb i ns for his patient assistance from the beginning unti 1 the comp 1et ion of this warkn I also would like to express my thanks to the Modern History Department staff for their assistance. And finally, to all who have assisted, your kindness will always b e remembe red„ Mohamad Idris Saleh, Department of Modern History, University of Glasgow. 23/5/19891 Abstract. The aim of this thesis is to estimate the importance of Modern i zers in creating, developing, spreading and contributing towards active Malay nationalism until it eventually succeeded in gaining independence, I wish to determine if it is true that the reformist movement carried on by Modernizers has no connection at all wit h Ma1ay nat i on a1i sm, that is to say as a religious movement or perhaps nationalism st i 11 in the stage of religion, Modern i zers were someti mes categorized like that because they seemed to talk too much about religion and because most of them received religious education and tried to bring modernization based on Islamic teaching. We could only reach a conclusion about this matter by doing our own investigation of the type of modernization carried out by Mode rni z e rs« We have tried to discover whether they were only interested in religious matters rather than more general quest ions concern ing development, freedom, and more important the independence of the Mala\y race. This investigation is divided into several chapters with specific concerns, namely “ re 1 i g i on, educat ion, the economy and politics, Th is thesis consists of seven chapters. The int roductory first chapter tries to give a general description of Malay society in soc i a 1, political and economic aspects, especially before and during the time of the British arrival. It is fallowed/a short d .iscussion about British intervention in Malaya as a turn ing point in the emergence of Malay nationalism. Such a background is i i necessary to enable las to understand subsequent issues in Malay development. The second chapter on the Origin of Malay Nationalism up to the time of Independence, tries to give a general treatment of this phenomenon in relation to Chinese and Indian movements during the same period. An attempt is made to investigate which group is more influential in Malay nationalism. Many views have been expressed concerning this matter. Some writers argue that Malay nationalism started in the late nineteenth century as can be seen in the early Malay uprising against colonialism. On the other hand, some suggest that the real Malay nationalism only existed when UMNO was formed in order to abolish the Malayan Union proposal. The reform movement carried on by Modernizers in the early twentieth century is investigated in the light of these Arguments. Chapter three specifically concerns religion and the views on it advanced by Modernizers. What were the factors which caused Malay backwardness?. Was it true that a misunderstanding of and errors in carrying out Islamic practice was the major factor in contributing to Malay backwardness?. Were there any other factors which also caused this backwardness, such as influence from animism and some elements of waxste in Malay culture: We consider how Modernizers used religion as a tool to make Malays more aware and discuss how Max lay society reacted to their proposals. Education becomes the main topic in chapter four. Modernizers believed poor education or complete lack of it also became a i i i major factor in hindering Malay development. We consider what Modernizers believed to be the explanation for this... and low standards of education. That is followed by a discussion of the initiatives made by Modernizers in order to develop Malay education to enable Malays to compete in the modern world. Malays were also always being said to be left behind in the economy, especially compared with immigrants. Chapter five looks at this question in detail. „ Malays were discontented when they still had to stay in the villages with their traditional occupations. Malays were denied a place in the new economy, especially the rubber and tin industries. Apart from the British, the immigrants became the wealthiest group in Malaya. We consider the reaction of Modernizers in this matter, and discuss their proposals to help Malays improve themselves. Chapter si x asks how far there was any po1i t ica1 consciousness among Modernizers. What was their perception of the Colonial power and the Malay ruling class?. If there was political consciousness, how important was the role of the Modernizers in contributing to Malay nationalism. The final chapter consists of a summary and general conclusion. Malay Society up to the British Intervention. Before our discussion goes into further detail, I would like to stress that our discussion of Malay society concentrates on its common features even though there are naturally some differences between parts of the country (1). The words Malay, Malayan, Malaya, Malaysia and Malaysian (2) often cause confusion. The word Malay means a person of the Malay- community or race, and language. It also used for Indonesians and abrogines (3). Malayan refers to a person of any race who has become a resident and citizen of Malaya (4). The word Malayan was created by the British to distinguish between the Malay and non- Malay population. However, with few exceptions most of the non-Malays do not want to use the word Malayan. Most of the Chinese called themselves Hua Chiao (overseas Chinese) and still considered themselves as Chinese citizens (5). The word Malayan was only frequently used after the 1940's. For example, Crazier- made his estimate of the Malayan population in the following , S+a'{<L 1. Malays divide according to the /\fram which they come. The Malay Kingdom consists of 11 states such as Selangor, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan etc. Most of the Malay States practise the same custom except Negeri Sembilan. "Adat Perpatih" is their custom. Malays are also segregated into several clans and speak severa1 d i a1ect s. 2. For example, E.H.G. Dabby, Southeast Asia, University of London Press Ltd., eleventh edition 1973, p. 107. 3. C.B. Kheng, "Asal Usui dan Asas Nasionalisme Malaya", in Nasionalisme Satu T i n jauan Se jarah, C.B, Kheng & Abd. Rahman Ismail <ed), Fajar Bakti, Petaling Jaya 1985, p. 88. 4. J.M. Gullick, Ma1aysia and 1ts Neighbours, Rout ledge & Kegan Pau1, Lon d on 1967, p . 4. 5. Ibid, p. 88. 1 terms; "its seven million people include more than two and a half million Chinese and 750,000 Indians or Pakistanis. Together with the Malays, they are called Malayans (or Malaysians if retiring to the citizenship of the new Federation)" (6). On the other hand the Malays themselves, did not want to be called Malayan. This concept was criticised widely in several newspapers and magazines at that time, such as "Majalah Guru", "Majlis" and "Suara Benar" and many more (7). Malaya is used to described the peninsular region originally of sultanates south of the Thai border and organised into the federation of Malaya. Malaysia is the political combination of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak into the Federation of Malaysia, and Malaysian is any national of the Fed e r a t .i on of Mai ays i a.