If we are still not yet free enough in our thoughts and beliefs to live in harmony with people of different creeds and colours, then the truth is there is still a lot to be done to achieve independence.
Malaysia's National Day celebrations on Aug 31, 2023. But have we truly achieved Merdeka, independence, if we are still not yet free and open enough in our thoughts and beliefs? — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
As a researcher who has worked on several documentaries about Malaysia’s independence , I decided to delve deeper into this quote to understand its context. A cursory Internet search reveals a reference to a similar phrase in a collection of speeches by Umno presidents. Further searching reveals a PDF scan of that particular speech in full.
Indeed, much of Onn Jaafar’s speech is about how shortsighted it is to talk about wanting independence if you’re not actually ready for it when you get it. He outlines issues ranging from how to form the Cabinet and government and who can interact on a level footing with governments of other nations, to how to fund an army to protect us against enemies within and without.
But perhaps the most surprising thing for some was that when Onn Jaafar referred to internal enemies, he meant “bukan bangsa Melayu, jika mereka tiada suka kepada kerajaan kita” – non-Malays who didn’t support a Malay-based government. I have previously written about the contradictions of Onn Jaafar, who would on one hand advocate the need for good relationships among the races to make the Malaya project successful, yet on the other hand actively campaigned for Malay superiority and rights .
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