Hari ini dalam tahun 1947: 9 November

PUTERA-AMCJA tubuhkan biro berita di London

Hari ini dalam tahun 1947, Pusat Tenaga Rakyat dan All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (PUTERA-AMCJA) telah menubuhkan sebuah biro berita di London di bawah pentadbiran wakil mereka di sana, Lim Hong Bee. Berikut merupakan artikel dari akhbar The Straits Echo bertarikh 10 November 1947 yang melaporkan penubuhan biro tersebut.


MALAYAN AFFAIRS BUREAU SET UP IN LONDON
Queen's Scholar is Director

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 9 – Putera and the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action, in a press statement, yesterday announced that a News and Information Bureau on Malayan Affairs has been set up in London under the direction of a representative of Putera and AMCJA in London, Mr. Lim Hong Bee.

The statement goes on to say: Mr. Lim Hong Bee, a Queen’s Scholar, who is now in London completing his law studies, is well known to the democratic movement in Malaya as one of the founders and first general secretary of the Malayan Democratic Union. He recently represented the people of Malaya at the International Human Rights Conference in London.

The News and Information Bureau has already set up news and information service on Malayan Affairs and is producing a regular Malayan newsletter, the first issue of which was scheduled to appear last week.

The Bureau has also distributed a large number of copies of the People’s Constitutional Proposals drafted by Putera and AMCJA to M.P.’s, progressive associations, leading English newspapers, the Colonial Office and others.

In his lates report to Putera and AMCJA, Mr. Lim Hong Bee states that letters requesting copies of the People’s Constitutional Proposals are pouring in on every hand, while those to whom copies have been given are asking for more.

Powerful Impression

Request for copies of the People’s Constitution, writes Mr. Lim Hong Bee, have also been received from European countries and from the United States.

Mr. Lim Hong Bee also says in his latest report that the success of the hartal created a powerful impression in London.

The London Times, he says, described the city of Singapore on Hartal Day as an impressive spectacle of miles of shuttered shops and empty streets.

The statement went on to say that it will be of interest to the people of Malaya as an exposure of anti-British propaganda, which is being used against Putera and AMCJA, that among those working in London are several Englishmen. They include Mr. Neill Steward, author, Major John Eyre, and his wife, Joan Eyre, Mr. S. H. Cox, Mr. John Dowding and Dr. E. Montussohi, M.D.

All of them, except Mr. Neill Steward, are well known to democrats in Malaya; as they were stationed here with the British armed services for lengthy periods during the past two years.

These British democrats studies Malayan conditions at first hand and their readiness to participate in establishing of the News and Information Bureau on Malayan Affairs in London under the direction of the Putera and AMCJA representative is very significant.

It proves that these British democrats agree that the policy of Putera and AMCJA on the Malayan constitutional issue is in the best interests not only of the people of Malaya but also of the people of Britain. It also shows that there are many Britishers who wholeheartedly support the campaign on the constitutional issue which is being directed by Putera and AMCJA as being in the best traditions of British militant democracy.

Other Functions

Another function of the London News and Information Bureau will be to maintain constant and close contact with M.P.’s, progressive associations, trade unions and newspapers in England in order that they may keep the truth about Malaya and Malayan condition always before the eyes of the British people.

“We, therefore request all political and other organisations, all trade unions, etc., to send us information about their activities and other relevant news in order that we may relay this information to our London representative, Mr. Lim Hong Bee, who would in particular, like to have journals statements and other publications of Malayan associations,” the statement concluded.

All documentary and other material intended for London should be addressed to the General Secretary, Putera and All-Malaya Council of Joint Action, 59 Klyne Street, Kuala Lumpur.


Sumber: Akhbar The Straits Echo, 10 Nov 1947

Tayangan khas Deepavali!

Sempena Deepavali yang mulia, aku tujukan filem ini kepada John A. Thivy (MIC), Budh Singh (MIC), K. Ganapathy (PMFTU), P. Veeraseenan (Harbour Labourers' Union), P. Rajagopal (Railway Workers Union), C. V. S. Krishnamoorthy (PMFTU), R. Balan (Rubber Workers' Union), K. N. Venugopal (Estates Employees' Union), P. V. Sharma (MDU), M. Saravanamuttu (Penang MDU), G. Chitambalan (Perak MDU), J. Appadurai (Perak MDU), K. A. Chandran (MNDYL) dan semua veteran2 politik kiri yang telah banyak berjasa dan berjuang untuk membebaskan tanahair kita dari jiwa penghambaan dan penjajahan. Cita-cita rakyat untuk sebuah negara Merdeka yang lebih adil dan saksama untuk semua rakyat, akan terus kami perjuangkan sampai bila2. Selamat Hari Deepavali, kongsi itu kuasa.

Temubual John A. Thivy (Presiden MIC) dalam akhbar Malaya Tribune, 3 Jan 1947

For any privilege in new constitution for Malaya
INDIANS WON’T APPEAL OVER MALAYS TO BRITISH
Thivy Clarifies M.I.C. Attitude To Federation
by Tribune Staff Reporter

Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 3 – An assurance that the Indians will never appeal over the heads of the Malays to the British for any particular right or privilege in the task of establishing a constitution for Malaya, was made by Mr. J. Thivy, President of the Malayan Indian Congress, in an exclusive interview with the Tribune on his arrival here last night from a tour of India.

Mr. Thivy disclosed that the Indians were prepared to declare “unequivocally for a single citizenship” and to regard “this land the object of their undivided loyalty.” He revealed that leading politicians in India fully shared this view.

He pointed out: “The Indian struggle for freedom has always been pure in conception and unselfish in execution. India has struggled not merely for her own freedom but has always stood for the freedom of the countries of South East Asia. Therefore, wherever an Indian lives, it is his first duty to identify himself and stand for the progress and advancement of the country of his abode, without any selfish reservations. This course of action naturally applies to Indians in Malaya.”

Declaring that he had always held that the Malays should have every assurance that in any constitutional struggle, their position as the indigenous population of this country will be safeguarded, Mr. Thivy said:

Secret Parley

“Unfortunately what has happened is that instead of the people of Malaya knowing what the Malays want, a secret conference – resulting in the Federation proposals – has been held between the British Government and certain elements of the Malay people. Out of this conference, an understanding has been born between these two parties, which cannot be considered in any way as an expression of Malay opinion and which cannot be treated as such by the non-Malay communities of Malaya.”

“The most outstanding feature of this understanding is that the Malays, deeply suspicious of the intentions of the other communities, have preferred to throw in their lot with the British, even to the extent of sacrificing their chances of one day winning complete freedom for this country.”

“This is obvious when they express fear of an “Union”, of their refusal to give the constitution the name “Malayan”, and deep anxiety not to bring in any citizenship rights. And in this fear of the other communities, they have surrendered every vestige of their sovereignty, except hollow “dignity”. The result is that all the initiative and sense of struggle and sacrifice for the sake of the country’s freedom, is lost to them. They have effected so many safeguards and have obtained rights without, however, the attendant responsibilities.”

“They have come to an understanding, but in doing so they do not recognise those elements of the Malays who still have the spirit to sacrifice, struggle and endure for the cause of the ideal of freedom and thereby fit themselves for the responsibility of government one day in the future.”

Too Much “Protection”

“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.”


Sumber: Akhbar The Malaya Tribune, 3 Jan 1947


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Hampir dua bulan selepas artikel ini diterbitkan, pada 22 Februari 1947, golongan kiri Melayu "who still have the spirit to sacrifice, struggle and endure for the cause of the ideal of freedom" telah bersatu untuk menubuhkan Pusat Tenaga Ra'ayat (PUTERA). Pada bulan Mac 1947, M.I.C. pada waktu itu yang bersekutu dengan organisasi2 politik kiri lain di bawah All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA) telah mengambil langkah bergabung dengan PUTERA bagi membentuk badan politik pertama yang merealisasikan penyatuan rakyat pelbagai kaum - PUTERA-AMCJA.

Pada 10 Ogos 1947, kerjasama politik ini telah melahirkan Perlembagaan Rakyat, yang disifatkan oleh editor The Straits Times pada 23 Sept 1947 sebagai "the first political attempt to put Malayan party politics on a plane higher than that of rival racial interests, and also the first attempt to build a political bridge between the domiciled non-Malay communities and the Malay race."

"Apasal keris nak taruh situ?"

Foto dari Berita Harian, 7 Nov 2007

Sempena Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 2007, sudi aku berkongsi petikan dari temubual dengan Yahya Nassim bercerita tentang peristiwa sejarah yang berlaku semasa Perhimpunan Agung UMNO yang pertama di Dewan Bandaran Ipoh, Perak pada 29 dan 30 Jun 1946.



Yayha Nassim telah ditemubual untuk filem Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka, di Kajang, Selangor pada 16 Julai 2007.

10tahun D.I.Y Film Tour

Penjelajahan pendek filem Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka ke utara semenanjung.

Sabtu / 3 Nov 2007 / 8:00 malam
Dewan Sri Pinang, Pulau Pinang
info: bangsamalaysiapenang@gmail.com

Ahad / 4 Nov 2007 / 8:30 malam
Rumah Persatuan Penggerak Warisan Budaya (AKRAB), Alor Star, Kedah
info: 019-563 5036

Isnin / 5 Nov 2007 / 8:30 malam
Selimut Hati Kafe, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
info: 019-959 5560 / merahdanhitam@yahoo.com / www.papakerma.com

Selasa / 6 Nov 2007 / 3:00 petang
Abada Bookstop (Sabasun), Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
info: 017-904 7790 / hikmah_0901@yahoo.com

Aku akan berada di setiap lokasi untuk sesi diskusi selepas tayangan filem itu nanti. Ayuh jumpa di sana!

10tahun di Radio24

Fahmi Reza (pengarah dokumentari 'Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka') akan diwawancara oleh Nizal Mohammad melalui corong radio dalam program Hello...! di Radio24 (93.9FM) pada hari Rabu, 7 November 2007, dari jam 9:00 hingga 12:00 tengahmalam.

Mungkin boleh minta mereka putarkan lagu 'God Save The Queen' sebelum mula wawancara!

Temubual dalam akhbar The Sun, 1 Nov 2007

Klik pada gambar untuk besarkan imej atau klik sini untuk baca.



Sumber: Akhbar The Sun, 1 Nov 2007