John A Thivy, 1st President of MIC 1946-1947
INDIANS WON’T APPEAL OVER MALAYS TO BRITISH
Thivy Clarifies M.I.C. Attitude To Federation
Thivy Clarifies M.I.C. Attitude To Federation
“It has always been the policy of the British Government to keep the Malay “backward” in comparison with the other communities, by giving him unnecessary “protection”, and thus create in him a tendency to lean heavily on them.”
“If the British are responsible for this mentality, the Indians and the Chinese are equally blameworthy. The economic exploitation of Malaya so engrossed the attention of these two communities that never for a moment in the last half century or so did they stop to notice that they were driving the Malay further into the British fold. The only difference there was between European and Asiatic exploitation was that the former was carried out more ruthlessly with the aid of governmental machinery.”
“It is fortunate that there are still large sections of the Malay people who are against the spirit and the letter of the Federation proposals. It is now incumbent on the non-Malay section of the Malayan people to assure the Malays that it is their sincere intention to come to an agreement with the Malays and the Malays alone, as to what should be the constitution of this country.”
“The best proof of this sincerity would be to conduct negotiations in such a frank and cordial manner that would gain the trust of the Malays and never make them, even for a moment, think of turning to the British for support and assistance.”
“For our part, the Indians and the Chinese should assure the Malays that never will we appeal over their heads to the British for any particular right or privilege in the task of establishing a constitution for this country.”
“If the British are responsible for this mentality, the Indians and the Chinese are equally blameworthy. The economic exploitation of Malaya so engrossed the attention of these two communities that never for a moment in the last half century or so did they stop to notice that they were driving the Malay further into the British fold. The only difference there was between European and Asiatic exploitation was that the former was carried out more ruthlessly with the aid of governmental machinery.”
“It is fortunate that there are still large sections of the Malay people who are against the spirit and the letter of the Federation proposals. It is now incumbent on the non-Malay section of the Malayan people to assure the Malays that it is their sincere intention to come to an agreement with the Malays and the Malays alone, as to what should be the constitution of this country.”
“The best proof of this sincerity would be to conduct negotiations in such a frank and cordial manner that would gain the trust of the Malays and never make them, even for a moment, think of turning to the British for support and assistance.”
“For our part, the Indians and the Chinese should assure the Malays that never will we appeal over their heads to the British for any particular right or privilege in the task of establishing a constitution for this country.”
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