Paying full attention: Dr Wee (front row right) at the symposium at Wisma MCA. With him are (from second right) Insap chairman Datuk Dr Pamela Yong, Siok Choo, Insap deputy chairman Tan Gim Tuan, MCA vice-president Datuk Lawrence Low, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker and Datuk Nicole Wong. — ART CHEN/The Star
Dr Wee: Archives show Chinese a vital force in struggle for independence
KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese community was a vital force in the country’s struggle for independence and in shaping its development, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said Chinese associations, clan organisations and guilds had conducted numerous meetings and gatherings on the road to negotiate with the British government.
“The Chinese community actively engaged in the grassroots movement before independence, utilising multiple channels to convey its views and demands to various political and social entities,” he added.
Speaking at the opening of the Malaysian Chinese Symposium 2024 at Wisma MCA here yesterday, he said these were the findings retrieved from the United Kingdom’s National Archives.
“It reminds us that the Chinese community was not passive in the nation-building process, but a vital force in it,” he added.
Saying that the community has always been loyal to the country, Dr Wee added that their contributions should be acknowledged with the respect they deserve.
The historical records, including those that had remained classified for decades, were retrieved by a team of researchers from the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, on a mission to Kew Gardens in July.
They were related to the Chinese community’s contributions to Malaya’s independence and the subsequent formation of Malaysia in 1963, said Dr Wee.
“The findings hold immense significance, not only for academia, but also for the community at large.
“This symposium is a timely platform to present these findings and discuss the broader implications they (the Chinese) carry for our understanding of history,” he added.
The event, themed “From Aspirations to Reality: The Malaysian Chinese Role in Independence and Beyond” also gathered scholars, historians and political thinkers to chart the future political path for the community.
Also present was Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, the granddaughter of Tun Tan Cheng Lock and daughter of Tun Tan Siew Sin, MCA’s first and third presidents, respectively.
On the research, Dr Wee said it focuses on three areas – the memoranda submitted to the Reid Commission, the Chinese Education Memorandum and the Alliance delegation’s trip to London in 1954.
He said the memoranda to the Reid Commission, responsible for drafting the Federal Constitution, outlined the aspirations and concerns of various ethnic groups while highlighting the Chinese community’s demand for equal citizenship rights and their desire for the protection of cultural and educational institutions.
He said another important aspect of the research is the examination of Chinese education’s role in pre-independence Malaya, particularly on the Chinese Education Memorandum, which shaped discussions leading to the Razak Report (the educational reform proposal written in 1956).
“The insights we’ve gathered from our research trip, along with the discussions, will hopefully provide a clearer understanding of how this shaped national policies and continues to impact us,” he added.
Dr Wee said the London missions – led by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj and consisting of representatives from Umno, MCA and later MIC – cemented the political collaboration between these parties in securing Malaya’s independence.
He said the research also looked into the role of the late Tan Sri Mohammed Tahir Tan Tong Hye (better known as TH Tan), then secretary-general of the Alliance Party (now Barisan Nasional).
“Both TH Tan and MCA’s involvement in the negotiations leading to independence have often been understated, with various narratives overshadowing their contributions.
“By revisiting these records, we aim to restore the rightful place of both TH Tan and MCA in our nation’s history, dispelling any myths or distortions that have clouded their legacies.
“As we delve deeper into the implications of that trip, we hope to present a balanced analysis of how these interactions with the British Colonial Office shaped the birth of a new nation and what role MCA and the Chinese community played in those historic negotiations,” he added.
Dr Wee also said one must not forget the origins of citizen-established organisations, which have included non-profit universities like UTAR and health institutions like Tung Shin Hospital.
“It was set up in a time when our forefathers wanted the future generations to have good education,” he said.
Dr Wee urged the government to continue protecting these institutions, whose ultimate goal is to benefit the people.
