Some Other Things About Merdeka

Last 31 August 2010 was our country independence day. All Malaysian rejoice the moment and being grateful for what we have today. That day I was just staying at home with hubby and the kids and I watched this one documentary special for Merdeka Day in History Channel, "THE MALAYAN EMERGENCY" or translated to Bahasa Malaysia, "DARURAT DI MALAYA". It was a documentary of pre independence telling all the story of how Malaysia was few years back before the independence.

It really did attract my attention because most of the fact and info that they documented in it, I didn’t learn it in my school time. Our history subject regarding this event was very limited.

What I still remember in the history subject that I’d learned was that Malaysia independence was achieved by Malaysian, by our own people mostly. We used to hear that our generation is very proud of our ancestor for bringing our country their independence. Only few names that mentioned in the scene was from outside or other country. How we proud of our 1st Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman for being the person that made our people dream came true to have our own free country. And I am proud too..;))

Well, I just like to see things at the other side of the view. Because for me, by doing so, I can get more knowledge because our life is such a huge dimension and it is a loss to anyone who refused to see things other than what we already knew of. And by peeking at the other side of the box also, I can understand and embrace the difference and sometimes it is just surprise me of how things are just not as what we usually think it is.

Okay, back to the issue “The Malayan Emergency”.

It was only few years before our independent, when our great grandfather was fighting the communism in Malaysia and struggling to survive in the era that was full of tragedy and history.

I was amazed of how British really tried very hard to help us to get our independent by fighting the communist, by that time was lead by the infamous Chin Pei. At first place this communist was stated that they fight was to forcing out all the British estate runner or owner from Malaya because they thought that these British was manipulated and stealing all the rich sources of our country and fed their people in Britain with that (but of course they we existed earlier from the Japanese era with objective to fight the Japanese). Well, I do think that they have a point there despite the fact that only when the British came then we (the Malayan at that time) started to learned all the knowledge and skills in running and operating the estate and all the rich mine. BUT the problem was, when the British came, we were just ‘kuli’ at ‘our own’ estate, farm and mines. And we were not happy with it of course, so there came the communist (what they said la..) to hurled out every single British from our land.

And then these communist, Chin Pei communists became more and more out of control. They started to showed their seriousness by hurting and killing anyone (the Malayan mostly) that they thought as traitor when these people were just trying to survived by working with the estate owner, the British.

Honestly, during my school time, I always imagined that communist was Chinese but then when I watched this documentary and heard all the statement from the ex-commnunist themselves, a lot also are Malays and they were very determine and brave. And I think their leader, Chin Pei was also very intelligent, with his plan in stressing the locals and used them to provide for the communist their supply of food to survive in the jungle.

But then, their action made the people suffered as well. They succeed in killing one of the British commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney but the British never gave up on Malaya. They knew, if they need to let go of Malaya, they need to make sure that Malaya is really can stand on its’ own foot then only they can maintained the rich sources from Malaya. But one thing I really salute this British, they did not torture or killing all the communists as free as they could but they gave rewards and forgiveness to any of the communists that surrender themselves. I called it a ‘war psycho’ even the British didn’t call it a war (it was undeclared war) but ‘emergency’ (darurat) so that all the estate runner or owner can claim the insurance for the damages done to their property due to this ‘emergency’ (insurance wouldn’t cover damages caused by war).

After the death of Sir Henry gurney, they sent another commissioner, an ex-combat in the WWII. For me, he was the mastermind behind all the success in fighting against the communism. He is Sir Gerald Templer.

Do not forget all the troops that were sent from other country in helping Malaya to eased this communism problem. People were suffering. Chinese were moved to a camp to isolate them from these communist so they will not have any supply to live in the jungle. Kids were killed just because they were thought to be an informer to the British. For a minute, I thank God for not living in this era. And being grateful for what I have now.

These communist were just so clever. To take note that Chin Pei was trained by the British intelligent himself before he lead The Malayan Communist Party.

Sir Gerald Templer for me was the smartest when he reversed all the communist techniques by doing all the opposite. When Chin Pei tried to use force to get support from the Chinese farmer, Sir Gerald Templer won the hearts of the people by listening and talking to them and tried to lessen their fear. He recruited more battalions that were joined by Chinese and they have to defeat their own people in jungle (for most communist were Chinese).

In another way, this strategy has brought all the different ethnic group and races of people together. And Sir Gerald Templer has managed to get the Sultans in Malaya to agree to give all the Chinese and Indian their citizenship, the most valuable status for them at that time.

Army from others Commonwealth country such as Australia and New Zealand also involved themselves (apart from British army themselves) in the undeclared war against the communism so that Malaya can get its’ independent that was promised by British long before.

Bukit Kepong incident showed the spirit of the people to defeat the communists. Policemen, their wives and kids were killed and burned during the incident.

The British still hasn’t give up. Along with the local forces team, they plan their tactical and bribed the members of the communist to surrender their high rank officer and it’s worked!! The member of the MCP were exhausted and some were just more than willing to returned to their normal life and betrayed their own leaders by surrendering their information and arms.

Chin Pei last plan was to tackle the Orang Asli and using their skills to survive in the deep jungle during their last straw to hide themselves from the army. And once again , Sir Gerald Templer succeeded in cutting off their (the communist) link with the Orang Asli and in doing so, he provided education to them. I really like this fact the most.

And at the end, the MCP was just had it enough. They broke their people into smaller unit in the jungle and many got out from the jungle and surrender themselves. They were out of food supply and tired. Their brilliant leader vanished to the South of Thailand.

And not long after, British declared Malaya as independent country with their own king or Sultans and ministered their own government and people and managed their own sources.

For me, one thing that I’d learned is that, we gain our independent by the help of others. So please do not put our pride too high on ourselves and claim that others are not valuable to us. We might still fighting the MCP without their helping hands. Let us start respecting others and do not forget, one country does not made by one man. Just stop being arrogant and think of others races or ethnics sensitivity also. If there is any issue in our own community, try to look out for the incompetence and improve instead of aggressively defended ourselves and pointing fingers because problem does not solve that way and we can’t claim ourselves as educated if we refuse to accept others critics and refuse to make things better and become self centred.

MALAYSIA now...

Last but never least, Happy Merdeka day to all Malaysian. We are the most unique country in the world for we are made of more than one ethnic group and races. Do not hate one another just because they speak the different language or have the different skin colour. God made us different so who are we to deny others existent?