Tan Cheng Lock: father of the ‘Malayan consciousness’

Academic Toh Chen Chun highlighted that MCA founder Tan Cheng Lock was among the first leaders to promote the idea of a Malayan-centred political consciousness among the Malayan Chinese. In his 1920 speech to the British Straits Settlements governor, Tan emphasized the importance of encouraging Malaya's "sons of the soil" to engage actively in the country's welfare.

Tan's advocacy, including his stance on Chinese representation in the civil service, led to his appointment as an unofficial council member by Governor Laurence Guillemard in 1923. By 1926, Tan had called for a true Malayan spirit and consciousness, advocating for a self-governing British Malaya with a federal government and Parliament.

Despite Tan's efforts, inculcating this vision into the Malayan Chinese community proved challenging. The author notes that Tan faced difficulties in convincing the China-born Chinese to accept his concept of a Malayan consciousness, as they viewed Malaya as a temporary residence before returning to China. Tan's advocacy gained traction in 1951 when Umno agreed to grant citizenship to all non-Malays born in Malaya, which Tan believed could help redirect the focus of the China-born Chinese away from Chinese national politics towards Malayan citizenship.