"RED AND WHITE" : INDONESIAN INFLUENCES IN MALAYA THROUGH THE MALAY NATIONALIST PARTY 1945-1948

Abstract

This Academic Exercise aims at shedding further light on Indonesian influences in Malaya, from 1945 to 1948, which is a relatively obscure period Indonesia was interested in Indonesia-Malaysia in the political relations. That developments in Malaya/Malaysia in the 1960s is well known because of the Confrontation, but the Indonesian interest in Malaya in the iamediate post World War Two is not too well known. The events of 1945-48 are of significance for they do have direct bearings on the developments in the 1960s, especially so in that the men involved and the ideology preached were identical. The title was chosen as "Red and White" because these are the official colours of the Indonesian Republic and it symbolized the ultimate goal of the Indonesian Republicans and the Malay Nationalist Party, which was the political unification of Malaya with Indonesia. I was fortunate in getting to read, until recently classified information from the Political Intelligence Journals of the Malayan Security Service. It was indeed fascinating to realize that the British had such an impressive intelligence organi:zation that seemed to have "eyes and ears" everywhere, and vere very well aware of all the plans of those who chose to oppose them. My main problem was my own lack of knowledge of the Malay and Jawi languages. Knowledge of these languages would have provided a greater insight into the world of the adherents of a united Malay world. Working on this exercise has been an experience and one that will be long cherished. Lastly, any errors of facts or history or any other imperfections are all my responsibility and mine alone.