New Strait Times (Singapore), Obituaries, 1999 Combined Matches: 1 - NOT AN OBIT>> Director of Operations Lieutenant- General Sir Roger Bower Headline: Merdeka! Publication Date: November 11, 1999 Source: The New Straits Times Page: 01 Subjects: Region: RCASMAL Obituary: Century clips: Politics, economics, culture and sports - this series is a peek at the forces which shape our country. In Life & Times every day until the end of the year, from the Malaya of old to the Malaysia of today, we sketch upon the canvas of history. 1957 is a year of firsts. Negotiations towards independence, which began with the 1955 Malaya Merdeka mission voyage to London, go from strength to strength. In February of 1957, the Reid Commission report, upon which the Constitution of an independent Malaya is to be based, is published. It excites nationwide interest, comment - and criticism. The political fortunes of the Alliance, too, burn ever brighter. In Penang's first rural council election on Feb 24, Alliance candidates triumph in all eight wards. The Malay language assumes an increasingly prominent position; the first Malay officer to command a Federation Army battalion is named; the Federation Army itself shoulders operational command of all Malayan battalions - and, on Aug 30, Malaya prepares herself for the greatest first of them all - her first appearance as an independent nation. January 2 Umno-MCA-MIC Alliance councillor G.H. Goh is elected first mayor of George Town. He defeats chairman of the Labour Party of Malaya D.S. Ramanathan by six votes to five. Retiring municipal president J.S.H. Cunyngham-Brown places the mayoral chain of office around Goh's neck. January 12 Malaya's first Malay women's co-operative society store has opened in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. According to C.E. Lansdell, United Nations expert on the co-operative movement, this is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The idea of contributing in this way to the country's economy originated seven months earlier with 50-year-old Wan Mek Wan Ibrahim. Since then, the society enrolled 200 members and collected 2,000 Malayan dollars in capital. Future plans, says Wan Mek, include the purchase of "vans and boats of our own". Within two hours of its opening, the store - owned and managed entirely by women - has sold 200 Malayan dollars worth of goods. February 21 The Reid Commission report, upon which the Constitution of independent Malaya is to be based, is published. The report states provisions must be "practicable in existing circumstances and fair to all sections of the community." The Commission adopts a large number of Alliance proposals, and some put forward by the Rulers Conference; it also makes recommendations of its own. Federation Chief Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman urges Malayans not to become overly excited about the report. "It only makes recommendations," he says. "These must be agreed to by the British Government, the Malay Rulers and the Alliance before they become law." The report contains points likely to occasion considerable discussion before they are accepted or modified. For example, it recommends that special rights enjoyed by Malays with regard to land reservations, permits and licences, posts in Government service, and scholarships, should not be increased but should continue for 15 years, after which they should be reviewed. It suggests also that there be no State religion for the Federation, but that the present position of the States regarding the recognition of Islam should continue. Commission member from Pakistan, Justice Abdul Hamid, however, recalls that the Alliance has made the unanimous recommendation that Islam should be declared the official religion, without imposing disability on non-Muslim citizens in professing, propagating and practising their religions. The Commission's terms of reference include making recommendations for a federal form of constitution for the whole country, as a single, self- governing unit within the Commonwealth, based on parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature. February 24 The Alliance sweeps into office with a 100 per cent victory in Penang's first rural council election. Alliance candidates triumph in all eight wards - two on Penang Island and six in provinces Central and South - its candidates winning all 24 seats with large majorities. This, together with the 18 seats they have taken in nomination day walkovers in six other wards, gives the Alliance 42 seats in the four rural district councils - Penang Island, and provinces North, Central and South. Over 68 per cent of the electorate in the eight wards votes. Polling is heaviest in Permatang Pauh (Province Central), where 77.4 per cent cast their ballots. March 2 The Federation Government announces new regulations regarding subjects studied in schools. Malay - the national language - must be taught at least two hours a week in all the Federation's English, Chinese and Tamil primary schools. Fifth- and sixth-year students at Malay primary schools will be given six-and-a-half hours of tuition a week in Malay; pupils in the same standards in schools with other languages as media of instruction will be taught Malay three hours a week. Malay is also compulsory in secondary schools. The new regulations, however, do not apply to third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year classes of Chinese secondary schools this year. The Registrar of Schools is given the power to approve a timetable for schools which cannot conform to regulations due to a lack of qualified teachers. May 3 Major Abbas Abdul Manan, 40, of the Fourth Battalion , the Malay Regiment, is to be the first Malay officer to command a battalion in the Federation Army. Currently second in command, he will take over on May 15 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, succeeding Lt-Col E.S. Purcell, who returns to England. Major Abbas enlisted in the Malay Regiment in 1935. He distinguished himself at the 1942 Battle of Pasir Panjang Ridge, Singapore, against the Japanese. Since liberation, he has participated in numerous operations against the terrorists. May 22 Tanjong Malim, the Perak-Selangor border town whose people were branded "silent cowards" by former High Commissioner General Sir Gerald Templer, pledges to halt aiding the Communists with food and money, and to give information to the Government. The goal? To make Tanjong Malim a "white" area. In three months of 1952, this town 51 miles north of Kuala Lumpur racked up a record 15 murders, 11 woundings, five ambushes, five unsuccessful ambushes, 10 attacks on military and police patrols, one attack on a kampung, a train derailment, two damaged pipelines, five burnt lorries, three destroyed buses, 6,000 slashed rubber trees and16 bandit camps found! The terror culminated on March 25 in the killing of 13 men, including Assistant District Officer Michael Codner and PWD engineer W.J. Fourniss, whose party intended to repair a water pipeline damaged by terrorists. Templer imposed a 22-hour house curfew on Tanjong Malim, reduced its rice rations, closed schools and stopped bus services. The sentence was lifted two weeks later, after the arrest of over 40 people suspected of being bandit couriers and food suppliers. June 1 The Federation Army assumes operational command of all Malayan battalions, in an historic step towards greater responsibilities in the battle against Communist terrorists. Major- General F.H. Brooke, general officer commanding the Federation Army, becomes operational commander of all Malayan forces in central Malaya. With this command, two Federal brigades become responsible for almost two-thirds of Malaya. Director of Operations Lieutenant- General Sir Roger Bower retains overall command until Merdeka. Until yesterday, operational command of Malayan battalions was exercised by Malaya Command through HQ 17 Gurkha Division and HQ 1 Federal Division. Territorially, the new structure of operational control is to be: Central Malaya (Kedah, Perlis, Province Wellesley and Penang) - the Federal Army; Johor and Northern Perak - the British Army. June 27 The Malay Rulers approve the draft constitution for independent Malaya. The Rulers Conference decides the agreement with the Queen to abrogate the present constitution and bring into force the new one should be signed on Aug 5; it decides on the same date for the election of the country's first paramount Ruler and his deputy. July 1 Malayans give an enthusiastic welcome to Berita Harian, the Straits Times' rumi edition. Keeper of the Ruler's Seal Mustapha Albakri has no doubt it will "help bring Malays and non-Malays closer together." This sentiment is echoed by Indian interpreter in the magistrates' court M.P. Samy, who says: "I expect hereafter more non- Malays will understand the Malay viewpoint." Berita Harian is sold out throughout the country within a few hours of its first appearance. July 11 With shouts of "Merdeka!", the Federal Legislative Council accepts the draft constitution. It will meet again on Aug 14, to ratify the new Constitution. August 5 The Federation Agreement between the Queen - represented by High Commissioner Sir Donald MacGillivray - and the Malay Rulers is signed at King's House in Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony, which lasts over two hours, is sumptuous with the silk-and-gold-thread costumes of eight Rulers and their Menteris Besar. A hint of sadness is evident; Britain is ending an association with the Malay States which has extended for more than a century. But, says Sir Donald, "I believe the agreement we are about to sign provides an instrument of government well suited to the future needs of this multiracial country, and that the new nation it recognises in its new-won independence has a great and glorious future." The formal signing ceremony begins just before 9.30am. The 15 principal signatories - the High Commissioner, the eight Rulers, the Regent of Johor, and the five ruling chiefs of Negri Sembilan - sign with fountain pens on which is inscribed, "Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1957". Article Three of the Agreement states: "As from August 31, 1957, the Malay States and the Settlements shall be formed into a new Federation of States by the name of Persekutuan Tanah Melayu or, in English, the Federation of Malaya." The Agreement then revokes the Treaty of 1948, and the Queen ceases to exercise sovereignty over Penang and Malacca. At the same time, her power and jurisdiction over the Federation come to an end. August 10 The High Commissioner announces the names of nominees to the posts of Governor of Penang and Governor of Malacca. Minister for Health and Social Welfare Leong Yew Koh, says Sir Donald MacGillivray, will be Governor of Malacca; Speaker of the Federal Council Raja Sir Uda Raja Muhammad will be Governor of Penang. August 30 The 2,300,000-Malayan dollar Merdeka Stadium, brainchild of Chief Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, is declared open by him. The topography of the site at Coronation Park - chosen by the Chief Minister - has lent itself to the construction of the earth amphitheatre, on which reinforced terraced seating has been laid. Upon this historic morning, the Duke of Gloucester, representative of the Queen, hands the constitutional instrument to Tunku Abdul Rahman, who then reads the proclamation of independence. The Federation's first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Sir Abdul Rahman, is thereafter sworn in. August 31 The Federal capital of Kuala Lumpur is a fairyland of lights; from all over the peninsula, people have gathered to witness the birth of a new nation. Visitors from overseas, too, are on hand - including teams of journalists, photographers and representatives from the world of television. By 9pm, 10,000 people stand ten deep at the town padang. At 11.58, a gleaming automobile sweeps into view, escorted by 30 Alliance motorcyclists. Prime Minister-designate Tunku Abdul Rahman alights. The atmosphere is electric; every light is switched off - and, from the Federal Secretariat clock tower, comes the first stroke of midnight ... The lights come on. As the deep chimes of the clock reverberate, the Union Jack is lowered and God Save the Queen fills the air of Malaya for the last time - a final tribute to Her Majesty. Then, the Federation flag is raised to flutter at the masthead; the national anthem - Terang Bulan, henceforth to be known as Negara Ku - is played publicly for the first time. The Federation is independent! A thunderous roar bursts forth: "Merdeka!" Tunku Abdul Rahman is enveloped in wave upon wave of exultant cheers ... September 2 Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is installed first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya. The installation of this independent and sovereign State's Paramount Ruler culminates in his unsheathing of that august emblem of authority, the Keris of State, kissing its blade in acceptance of his high office. The 63-year-old monarch intones: "Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi". September 4 Keeper of the Rulers' Seal Mustapha Albakri, 55, has been appointed Malaya's first Elections Commissioner. His first task will be to prepare for Federal by-elections in Johor and Perak, and the country's general and State elections no later than June 1959. In Johor, the by-election will be for the seat of S. Chelvasingam MacIntyre (Batu Pahat), who has been appointed Malaya's High Commissioner in India. In Perak it will be for the seat of former Minister for Health Leong Yew Koh (Ipoh and Menglembu), who has been appointed Governor of Malacca. September 10 The Cabinet of independent Malaya meets for the first time. Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman is seated in the chair once occupied by the High Commissioner who, under the old regime, was chairman of the Executive Council. September 18 Malaya has been unanimously elected to membership of the United Nations by roll call. Sir Leslie Munro, president of the UN General Assembly, says he has the "great honour ... to welcome to our membership the new State of the Federation of Malaya." This is the fourth occasion since the creation of the UN in 1946 that Britain has had the privilege of proposing a newly-independent member of the Commonwealth for UN membership. October 24 Malaya becomes a contracting party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Minister of Commerce and Industry Tan Siew Sin accepts GATT obligations for the nation. October 30 The Alliance Party, sponsored by Umno, the Malayan Chinese Association and the Malayan Indian Congress, has been registered as a political organisation. Membership is open to any party of national character; applications must be unanimously approved by the three founder parties before admission. November 6 The Federation Government exposes the Malayan Communist Party's plan of deception, infiltration and subversion, publishing MCP documents so far seen only by top security officials. Contained in a booklet entitled "The Danger and Where It Lies", the documents reveal Communist plans to: use individual Umno and MCA members; infiltrate local village councils and trade unions; and introduce Red organisations to schools. In the publication's foreword, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman - dubbing these Communists the "greatest single threat to Malaya's happiness and prosperity" - states: "Henceforth, emphasis will be laid by the terrorists on subversion - the undermining of the civilian population and the capture of legal and constitutional organisations - rather than on fighting the security forces." November 9 Seremban, in its entirety, is declared a "white" area beginning midnight - 36 hours after the last four terrorists there surrender. Curfews, food restrictions and gate checks in force for the past nine years are lifted. Normal life returns for the district's 133,000 people. Seremban, former stomping grounds of the Communist so-called 3rd Independent Platoon, is spread over 360 square miles. It is the 54th area in the country and the fourth in Negri Sembilan to be declared white; 28,050 square miles of the Federation - with a population of 3,397,000 - are white. The Seremban white area encompasses the village of Mantin to the northwest, 12 miles along the Kuala Pilah Road, 12 miles along the Seremban-Jelebu Road, and 10 miles down the Tampin Road. Tommorrow: 1958