Tan Cheng Lock pelopor ‘kesedaran Malaya’

Academics have noted that Tan Cheng Lock, one of the founding figures of Malaysia, was an early advocate for fostering a sense of political awareness centered around Malayan identity among the Chinese community in Malaya. In his biography, "One Country, One People: The Life and Legacy of Tun Tan Cheng Lock," Toh Chen Chun recounts how Tan leveraged his growing influence within British circles to emphasize the importance of establishing foundations for the Malayan populace.

During a midday reception with the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Laurence Guillemard, in 1920, Tan frequently spoke about the necessity of fostering a strong sense of 'Malayan-born' individuals to become more active in caring for the welfare of their homeland. Despite their varying ethnic backgrounds, Tan insisted that all individuals who called Malaya home were citizens, part of an empire built on strong principles of freedom.

Tan's passionate advocacy eventually led him to champion the entry of Malaysian citizens into the civil service, prompting Guillemard to appoint him as an unofficial member of the Straits Settlements Legislative Council in 1923. Three years later, in 1926, Tan proposed his vision for an independent British Malaya with a federal monarchy and parliament.

In that speech, he urged Malayan leaders to cultivate genuine 'Malayan awareness' among the populace and build a society with a strong sense of Malayan identity. Toh notes that while Tan's ideas resonated with many, implementing them among the Chinese community in Malaya proved challenging. He observed that educated British-educated elites were more receptive to Tan's vision of 'Malayan awareness.'

Tan recognized that these groups, referred to as 'Laukeh' and 'Sinkeh,' who were early waves of Chinese immigrants to Malaya before and after the First World War, viewed Malaya as a temporary home for seeking wealth before returning to their ancestral villages in China. However, Tan faced difficulties convincing the more China-oriented 'Laukeh' and 'Sinkeh' to engage in local politics and consider Malaya as their true homeland due to their strong attachment to China.

In 1951, as Malaysian politicians, including founding Umno leader Onn Jaafar, began to consider granting citizenship to non-Malays born in Malaya, Tan argued that the most effective way to divert the Chinese community's focus from excessive devotion to Chinese nationalist politics was to offer open Malayan citizenship. One Country, One People: The Life and Legacy of Tun Tan Cheng Lock was published by UTAR Press and can be purchased for RM130 through alumni@tarc.edu.my. All proceeds will go to the Tun Tan Siew Sin Loan Fund at TARUMT.