Cover photo: After the British returned to Malaya in the aftermath of World War II, the Malayan Union was formed. However, the Union was met with much opposition due to its constitutional framework, which allegedly threatened Malay sovereignty over Malaya. The event sparked the first major show of force by Malay nationalism, which eventually resulted in the formation of Federation of Malaya in 1948.
Many Malays opposed to colonialism in the pre-War period were considered communists by the British. Despite the failure of their various agendas, their early contributions were broad and lasting.
Being anti-colonial, the Malay Left was classed either as communists or at least as fellow travellers of the reds.1 The basis for this claim? Undeniably, being leftist or against the status quo was not enough to make one a communist.
So who or what was the Malay Left, really?
