″NEGOTIATION AND UNDERSTANDING″: RACIAL COMPROMISE AFTER JAPANESE OCCUPATION IN MALAYA

Abstract

This paper discusses the negotiation and understanding efforts undertaken by the Malay Rulers, British administration and the Chinese community in restoring racial harmony after the Japanese occupation in Malaya. The official British intervention policy in Malaya since 1874, the Japanese occupation and the communist oppression have triggered dissatisfaction among the racial groups, resulting in inter-racial clash. This article provides an overview of the British administration, the Japanese occupation and the communists. The discussion was also focused on the process of negotiation and understanding following the outbreak of inter-racial clashes after the Japanese occupation. Various efforts were made by the Sultan, the Malay rulers, and intellectuals to restore inter-racial relations. The Race Relation's Committee, which was formed, played an important role in quelling hostilities between Malays and Chinese and restoring harmony. The discussion in this article is based on library research methods involving records from the British Colonial Office, archival files and secondary sources. The research findings indicates that the racial compromise was successful in restoring racial harmony in Malaya after World War II. This effort is also significant as a pioneer towards national independence.