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Malaysian Solidarity Convention

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Malaysian Solidarity Convention
Malay nameMajlis Solidariti Malaysia
LeaderLee Kuan Yew
FounderLee Kuan Yew
FoundedMay 9, 1965 (1965-05-09)
DissolvedJune 10, 1966 (1966-06-10)
HeadquartersKuala Lumpur, Malaysia[1]
IdeologyMultiracialism
Malaysian Malaysia
Anti-Article 153
Political positionCentre to centre-right
Member parties
Dewan Negara
0 / 70
(2nd Parliament of Malaysia)
Dewan Rakyat
17 / 159
(2nd Parliament of Malaysia)

The Malaysian Solidarity Convention was a confederation of political parties formed on 9 May 1965 at Sri Temasek.[2] The confederation exist until 9 August to oppose Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia. This article specifically provided special quotas for the Malay and other indigenous peoples of Malaysia in admission to the public service and to public education institutions, and the awarding of public scholarships and trade licences. It also authorised the government to create Malay monopolies in particular trades. Critics have called such affirmative action for the Malays to be racial discrimination against other Malaysian citizens, with the goal of creating ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy).

The rallying motto of MSC was Malaysian Malaysia. It was not a mere tautology because it distinguished between nationality and ethnic classification. The complaint was that Malaysia was not being "Malaysian" by discriminating against non-Malay Malaysians, and was rather being a "Malay Malaysia".

History

[edit]

The convention was a reaction of conflict between Singapore's governing party, the PAP and Malaya's governing party, UMNO.[3] The conflict arose due to the PAP's participation in the 1964 Malaysian general election which the party intended to exert more rights to Singapore.[4]

Early efforts to organise cooperation between Opposition parties were done as early as 12 February 1965.[5] The meeting was done at Sri Temasek and were attended by members from PAP, UDP, PPP, SUPP, PAS and UPKO.[6]

The MSC functioned as a political bloc which was led by Lee Kuan Yew and the People's Action Party when Singapore was still part of Malaysia. It composed of multi-racial parties such as the PAP, the People's Progressive Party, the United Democratic Party, Sarawak United People Party and Machinda party.[7]

At the MSC's first and only general meeting, several leaders from these parties gave speeches supporting a Malaysian Malaysia. D. R. Seenivasagam in his speech accused the National Alliance of using Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia to "bully non-Malays".[8][9][10]

PAP's participation in the convention ended when Singapore seceded from Malaysia. By then, cracks began emerging within the convention, causing SUPP and Machinda to leave by the end of 1965.[11] PPP's decision to cooperate with the Labour Party of Malaya (LPM) during the 1966 Bruas by-election caused the UDP to question its loyalty to the convention.[12] The convention officially disbanded when the PPP maintained its decision to affirm its cooperation with LPM.[13][14][15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Convention's new secretariat". The Straits Budget. 25 August 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  2. ^ "'Grand' Opposition discuss 'grave trends...'". The New Straits Times. 10 May 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  3. ^ Isa, Muhammad Hafiz; Samsudin, Mohd (2021). "Malaysian Solidarity Convention (MSC): Formation and struggle of the Malaysian Malaysia concept, 1965-1966" (PDF). Akademika. 91 (3): 39–52. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ [2]
  6. ^ [3]
  7. ^ "Rally starts Malaysia crusade". The Straits Times. 7 June 1965. p. 11. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  8. ^ Lee, Kuan Yew (1998). "41. The Quest for a Malaysian Malaysia". The Singapore story: memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew (Repr ed.). Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. pp. 616–617. ISBN 978-981-204-983-4.
  9. ^ "The 'Grand Opposition' to hold a mass rally". The Straits Times. 21 May 1965. p. 9. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Convention may put off Sabah, Sarawak rallies". The Straits Times. 7 July 1965. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  11. ^ [4]
  12. ^ "PPP QUESTIONS USEFULNESS OF CONVENTION". The Straits Times. 8 June 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Solidarity leaders call talks to discuss 'cracks'". The Straits Times. 10 June 1966. p. 6. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  14. ^ [5]
  15. ^ "UDP will have to rethink its policy: Dr. Lim". The Straits Times. 2 May 1966. p. 6. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
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