Bangsa Melayu : concepts of democracy and community among the Malays, 1945-1950

Abstract

This study concentrates on the changes and perceptions of the Malay communities in Malaya and Sumatra concerning bangsa, kerajaan, democracy, negara and negeri. Like most societies under western colonial domination, Malay society had to redefine itself and its relationship to other communities residing in areas considered to be Malay lands. The Malays in Malaya chose a path of non-violence in their struggle to redefine themselves. The radical Partai Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya opted for union with Indonesia in a MeJayu Raya which would encompass the various ethnic groups in a wider bangsa Melayu. The conservative UMNO redefined the role of the monarchy and upheld an ethnic definition of bangsa Melayu that would exclude the Chinese (and Indians) :ind preserve Malay political dominance under British protection. When Melayu Raya was no longer possible, the P.K.M.M. in cooperation with the non-Malays put forward the idea of Melayu as a nationality for all who chose Malaya as their homeland. This idea was not accepted by the Malay majority which wanted bangsa Melayu to remain exclusive. The Federation of Malaya Agreement in 1948 maintained bangsa Melayu as an exclusive ethnic identity. The non-Malays received citizenship rights but no nationality. In East Sumatra, the various kerajaans wanted to maintain the privileged status of the bangsa Sumatera Timur even though the territory had become a part of independent Indonesia. The Indonesian Republican upheld bangsa Indonesia as a nationality which gave all Indonesians equality before the law. Peoples’ sovereignty was an important feature of their beliefs. The 'social revolution’ of March 1946 saw the destruction of the Malay kerajaans as they were unable to change and conform to the wishes of the majority who accepted bangsa Indonesia and democracy with all its political and social implications. When the Dutch used force to reassert their presence in East Sumatra in July 1947, they helped to set up the Negara Sumatera Timur. The N.S.T. was supposed to safeguard the interests of the bangsa Sumatera Timur. It was not successful because the N.S.T. depended on Dutch support. It failed also because bangsa Indonesia was widely accepted and the calls for kedaulatan rakyat, freedom and equality were too powerful to be ignored. When the N.S.T. was dissolved in 1950, the only bangsa that triumphed was the bangsa Indonesia.