Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsASMZ/2017

Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsChapter 12:: The Emergency in Malaya

What is communism?

It is an economic and social system in which all property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens.

Differences between manual and intellectual labour and between rural and urban life were to disappear.

Communism in Malaya

Early developments in Malaya: 1925: Chinese Communist Part set up the Nanyang Communist Party in Singapore. Members were mostly Chinese due to the large communists groups in China. It was

also easier to communicate and recruit Chinese. 1928: The Nanyang Communist Party was replaced by the Malayan Communist Party. Aim: To recruit more communists from the Chinese, Malay and Indian sector of Malaya.

Activities: They were an illegal organisation and

had to work underground. Infiltrating Malayan trade unions and

organising strikes. Lai Teck was sent by the Russians to

solve problems.

Lai Teck

Who was Lai Teck?

He was a double agent who worked with both the British and the Communists.

To the communists: Communists will offer help to the British but will always prepare to remove them.

To the British: He kept them informed of the Malayan Communist Party’s activities.

Rise to popularity: During the Japanese Occupation in China, he gave support to the pro-British Chiang

Kai Shek and the Kuomintang. This made him win the support of the Chinese in Malaya and Singapore. The MCP thus gained 40,000 members by 1939.

The MCP during Second World War

They agreed to help the British during the Second World War. Why?1. To defeat a common enemy: The Japanese.2. They had a hidden agenda:

The British would train the MCP and thus the MCP would obtian valuable training.

This would help overthrow the British in the future. They were then sent to the 101 Special Training School in Singapore.

3. During the Japanese Occupation they created the MPAJA with the British helping them with training and leadership.

Post World War II

After the Japanese surrendered, MPAJA took the Japanese weapons. During the space of time between the surrender of the Japanese and the return of the

British, the MPAJA were the leaders of Malaya, gaining support and influence of the Malayans.

They were also seen as heroes to some.

1

Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsASMZ/2017

Opposition against the Formation of the Malayan Federation

12th September 1945: BMA was set up and disarmed the MPAJA. They allowed the MCP to carry out their activities publically though they were not taken seriously by the BMA.

In 1947: The MCP joined the campaign against the Malayan Federation. Once again, they started to organise attacks against the government and harrased the trade unions.

However, they had to deal with one major setback: The disappearance of Lai Teck who stole all the Communist Joint Funds and revealed as a double agent.

His successor, Chin Peng, however, was a more radical activist. He wanted a more militant action to establish a Communist Republic of Malaya.

Chin Peng

THE EMERGENCYAgitation In 1948, Chin Peng urged for stronger measures against the British.

Their objections to the Federation of Malaya was ignored by the British. Angered by the British disregards of them, they forcibly tried to drive the British out of Malaya.

Plan 1. They wanted to carry out anti-British demonstration all over Malaya.2. They prepared their guerilla army to attack tin mines, rubber plantations and public

buildings.3. They wanted to attack over British training grounds and use it for their own armies.4. After all of this was done, they planned to declare a short war to drive out the British

government from Malaya.Action The leader of the guerilla armies was Lau Yew.

In February 1948, the MPAJA used equipped the weapons that they ceased from the Japanese at the end of the Second World War.

3000 men were dispersed in the jungle. What were destroyed? Rubber plantations, tin mines and public buildings were attacked. Machineries, houses and workers were destroyed, burned and terrorised. On 19th June 1948, Sir Edward Gent declared a state of Emergency throughout

Malaya and Singapore.British reaction

1. Banning the MCP The Malayan Communist Party was declared illegal. British troops were brought into the jungle to root out the MCP. One major

victory they had was when Lau Yew was assassinated in July 1948.Strategies and counter actions

MCP actions:Help from the villages

They set up the Min Yuen: an organisation which brought them food and supplies.

They were based in the jungle villages and acted as military intelligence.

Changing their name: They changed their name to the

Malayan Races Liberation Army, to win the Malay and Indian support.

British reactions:Root out the helpers in the villages

British set up a system of national registration.

This way, any communist who registered would be arrested.

Dropping leaflets: The British dropped leaflets

explaining the terms for surrender.

They were ignored.

2

Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsASMZ/2017

BRITISH STRATEGIES1. THE BRIGGS PLAN

Planned by: Sir Harold Briggs in 19501. New Villages 2. Operation Starvation 3. Improvements

Aim: To stop contact between farmers and communists.

Method: New settlements were set up surrounded by barbed wires and soldiers.

By 1952: 400,000 population. Result: Successful.

Aim: To make it difficult for communists to maintain their food supplies.

Method: Control of sale and transport of food through ration cards.

Result: Successful

Aim: Improve police and army’s coordination against the communists.

Result: Successful

Gates showing new villagesSir Harold Briggs

Army training in the jungles

RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNISTS

Newspaper head lining Gurney’s death

1951: MCP realised their terrorist attacks were failing.

MCP’s new tactic: Targetted leading figures in the British camp.

First victim: Henry Gurney, the High Commissioner, was ambushed and murdered on the 6th October 1951.

Sir Henry Gurney

3

Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsASMZ/2017

2. GENERAL GERALD TEMPLAR’S PLANSPlanned by: General Sir Gerald Templar, the New Commissioner after Henry Gurney

1. Operation Starvation 2.0

2. Guerilla attacks 3. War Executive Committees

Method: Troops from Commonwealth countries were sent to the jungle to destroy communist crops.

Method: The Hunter Killer Platoons and helicopters attacked communists through the jungle.

The Royal Navy patrolled the coast

Aim: To cut off communist supplies.

Aim: Deal with day to day campaign against the Communists.

4. Psychological warfare Aim: To win the hearts and minds of the people

Methods:a) 1952 Amendment Bill Urged unity of races. Result: Increased Chinese

citizenships from 15% to 55% Allowed local councils to be

elected by the locals.

b) Questionnaire system:

Allowed people to give information about the communist attacks anonymously.

c) Rewards: Templar offered cash to

those who offered information about the communists.

The reward for Chin Peng’s head was $250,000

Guerilla attacks from commonwealth countries’ troops and helicopters

Cash incentives were offered to those who cooperated

4

Section 5: Nationalism and Constitutional DevelopmentsASMZ/2017

RESULTS OF THE BRITISH STRATEGIESCreation of White Areas

The White Areas indicate areas which are free of communists. The first White Area was Malacca in 1952. Black areas were the ones suspected with Communists such as Johore

and Pahang.Baling Talks

28th and 29th December 1955: Tunku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall and Tan Cheng Lock met at Baling Kedah with MCP and Chin Peng.

But after Lau Lee, Chin Peng’s advisor, died and the MCP’s army decreasing to 1,500 soldiers only, they were losing the war.

On the 31st July 1960, the Malayan Emergency was finally over.

David Marshall,Tunku Abdul Rahman & Tan Cheng Lock during the Baling Talks

Chin Peng and the Malayan Communist Party during the Baling Talks

REASONS FOR BRITISH SUCCESS1. Military Strength 2. Support from society 3. Weaknesses of the MCP

More men: Commonwealth countries were joining in their cause.

Effective tactics: guerilla warfare and regulation of food supplies was highly successful.

New villages made the people secure after all the terror they faced.

Plus, the rewards offered was highly encouraging.

The MCP tortured the Chinese people to get supplies from them although they wanted Chinese supporters.

They lost prominent leaders such as Lau Yew and Lau Lee.

Their techniques of fear and hatred did not work in the long run.

5