Chapter 3

NATIONALISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

“…Verily! Allah will not change the (good) condition of a

people as long as they do not change their state (of
goodness) themselves...”
Surah Ar-Ra’d, Verse 11

1
OFF
3.1 FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF NATIONALISM

Main concern of Local people forced

foreigners was in making to work hard for them
profits for themselves

They resented colonial Local people lived in

rule and this helped stir up hardship and poverty
feelings of nationalism

2
3.1 FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF NATIONALISM

Many locals educated in

the West

Western education
exposed them to ideas of
freedom

Upon return, they began They led social and

to stir the feelings of their political nationalist
own people movements
3
3.1 FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF NATIONALISM

Western educated locals Worldwide economic

did not want to be depression of the1930s
dominated economically caused frustration with
by foreigners foreigners

Arrival of Chinese and Indian immigrants and their

success made many locals resentful. This stirred up
feelings of nationalism.
4
3.1 FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF NATIONALISM

Islam played an important role as a unifying factor in

the nationalist movements of Southeast Asia

External factors eg. Struggle for independence led by

Mahatma Gandhi, the Chinese Revolution of 1911,
and Japan’s shattering of European superiority
during World War II encouraged the Southeast Asian
rulers even more 5
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA

During the Second World War,

Britain began to draw up plans
to govern a post-war Malaya.

Malayan Union

However, many of the Malay

Sultans were not happy with
the plan

The Malayan Union was

established in April 1946,
despite strong protests from
the Malays 6
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA
It threatened the
special position of the
Why did the Malays oppose
Malays
the Malayan Union?
It meant the loss of
Sultans’ power and
prestige

Granting citizenship
rights to non-Malays
meant Malays would
be outnumbered by
other races
By May 1946, the Malayan Union was abandoned.
7
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA

The United Malays National Organisation

(UMNO) was formed in March 1946. Dato
Onn bin Jaafar was the President.

Dato Onn bin Jaafar Main aims of UMNO:

• To make the British withdraw the Malayan Union

• To defend Malay rights and interest
• To prepare the Malays for their part in self-government

8
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA
The Alliance

1952: UMNO and MIC joined the alliance

MCA formed a before the first general
temporary alliance elections in 1955

Since then, this alliance has become a permanent feature

The Federation of Malaya

• Established in 1948 to replace the Malayan Union
• Made up of Federated, Unfederated Malay states and
two settlements under one government
• Malay Sultans retained sovereignty
• Citizenship restricted to those born in the Federation
9
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA

June 1948: the Malayan Communist Party

launched a full scale armed revolt in the
country

AIMS OF MCP

• Disrupt the Malayan economy Sir Harold Briggs

• Defeat the British government
• Set up a Communist Republic in Malaya

• The government declared a state of Emergency

• 1950: Briggs Plan – ‘New Villages’, ‘Operation
Starvation’
10
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA

• Gerald Templer as new High

Commissioner
• New scheme introduced – ‘Black
Areas and White Areas’

Baling Talks
General Gerald Templer
• 1955: Tunku Abdul Rahman announced pardon for
communists
• Dec 1955: Talks between government and
communists failed
• July 1960: The Emergency ended
11
3.2 NATIONALISM IN MALAYA

1955 General Elections  won by the Alliance

1956 Merdeka Mission  a success, British agreed to grant

independence to Malaya
1956 Reid Commission set up to draw up new constitution
for an independent Malaya

• Malaya to have Parliamentary Democracy and

Constitutional Monarchy
• Automatic citizenship for those born after
Independence day
•Islam and Malay language as official religion and
language
31st Aug
1957 Malaya became an independent nation 12
3.3 NATIONALISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

1565 - 1898: Spanish ruled in Philippines

Spanish presence, Filipinos became

exposed Filipinos aware of injustice
to western liberal in their country
ideas

1899: Emilio 1898: After the

Emilio Aguinaldo Aguinaldo Americans
declared defeated the
independence for Spanish in a war,
the Philippines. they set up their
He was own government
unsuccessful. in the Philippines.
13
OFF
3.3 NATIONALISM IN THE PHILIPPINES
• 1907: Filipinos given representation in the Lower
House of the government. Filipinos unsatisfied
• 1907: Nationalist Party formed by Sergio Osmena
• 1934: Tydings-MacDuffie Act
• 1935: Commonwealth set up with Manuel Quezon as
President
• 1941: Japanese invasion
1945: Americans
recaptured the
Philippines

4 July 1946: The

Philippines given
independence
OFF
Signing the Tydings-Macduffie Act 14
3.4 NATIONALISM IN INDONESIA
Factors responsible for the rise of Indonesian Nationalism:

15
OFF Radin Adjeng Kartini
3.4 NATIONALISM IN INDONESIA

1912 Sarekat Islam established

1916 Sarekat Islam asked the Dutch to grant Indonesia self-

government
1920 Partai Komunis Indonesia formed. They aimed to gain
independence by force.

1927 Partai Nasional Indonesia formed.

They aimed to adopt a policy of non-
cooperation with the Dutch to gain
independence.
1929 Sukarno, leader of PNI arrested
Sukarno
1932 Sukarno became leader of PARTINDO
16
OFF
 3.4 NATIONALISM IN INDONESIA

1936 President of Indonesian Civil Service handed petition

to Dutch asking for participation in Dutch
administration
1940 Wiwoho Resolution sent to the Dutch

1942 The Japanese invaded Indonesia and agreed to grant

Indonesia independence if they cooperated with
them

15 Aug
1945 The Japanese surrendered in Indonesia

17 Aug
1945 Sukarno declared Indonesia independent
17
OFF
3.4 NATIONALISM IN INDONESIA
Conference in the Hague, 1949
17 August 1950:
Indonesia became
independent. Sukarno
was the first president
OFF
When the Dutch returned
to Indonesia after World
War II, they refused to
recognise Indonesia’s
independence.
Fighting broke out
between Dutch and
Indonesians
At Hague 1949: Dutch
agreed to recognise
Indonesian independence 18
3.5 NATIONALISM IN THAILAND

(1910 - 1925)

• His administration was inefficient and corrupt

• Siamese nationalism grew not only from civilian
but also military discontent against the absolute
power of the king.

(1925 - 1935)
• Supported plans to introduce constitutional
government
• 1932: A bloodless revolution took imposing
democratic rule out of his hands
19
OFF
3.5 NATIONALISM IN THAILAND

• Led by Nai Pridi Panomyong

• Brought about by widespread discontent
among the people of Thailand
• The new parliamentary government
consisted of a Legislative assembly and a
Cabinet Nai Pridi

1933: The Army and Navy took control of government

1938: Pibul Songgram became the Prime Minister of

Thailand. He encouraged Thai nationalism.
20
OFF
3.5 NATIONALISM IN THAILAND

Thai Nationalism During Japanese Expansion

• Under Pibul, Thailand allied with the Japanese

• 1944: Aware that the Japanese would be defeated, Thai
nationalists decided to support the Allies
• 1945: Thailand gained support from America when the
Japanese surrendered

Pibul
Songgram 21
OFF
CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY

Oppressive Economic
Colonial Trends
Rule Western
Educatio
n
Role of
Religion Progress of
Asian Immigrant
examples of Communitie
nationalism s 22
CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY
NATIONALISM IN MALAYA

1946: Formation of the Malayan Union

Formation of UMNO, MIC, MCA and the Alliance

1948: Federation of Malaya

1948 - 1960: The Emergency

General Elections, the Merdeka

Mission and Independence

23
CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY
• American-Filipino alliance
Nationalism in • Constitutional reforms under the
Philippines US
• Indonesian political parties
formed
Nationalism in • Japanese Occupation
Indonesia • Dutch forced to give
independence
• Movement against the absolute
power of Chakri Dynasty
Nationalism in • Rivalry between civilians and
Thailand the military
• Japanese Expansion and switch
of allegiance to Americans 24