Technology and Democracy in Malaysia during Pre-Independent Age

In Malaysia, Democracy system are well known back fifty years ago. At that time, the land of Peninsula Malaya was colonized by the Imperialism of England. Before independent, Malaysia was formerly known as Malaya and under the predominate government of England which launched a famous policy known as Divide and Conquer ( In Malay, “Pecah dan Perintah”). The people who stayed at the Peninsula included races of Malay, Chinese and Indian that were influenced by the ideology of Imperialism of England. That was how three major of races were brought together without consciousness. However, Tunku Abdul Rahman changed the situation which oppressed the people in the Peninsula Malaya especially the Malays. He released them from the hand of Imperialism of England to build a more democratic government which was run by leaders who represented each of their races.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, CH (February 8, 1903 – December 6, 1990) usually known as "the Tunku" (a princely title in Malaysia), and also Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) or Bapa Malaysia (Father of Malaysia). He was the Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister since its independence in 1957. He remained as Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore were called upon to join in 1963 to form Malaysia.

After his return to Malaya in 1949, Abdul Rahman was first posted at the Legal Officer's office in Alor Star. He was later asked to be transferred to Kuala Lumpur, where he became a Deputy Public Prosecutor. He was appointed as president of the Sessions Court by then.

During that period, nationalism was running high among the Malays, with Datuk Onn Jaafar leading the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the struggle against Britain's Malayan Union (see History of Malaysia). Tunku Abdul Rahman joined UMNO and became active in Malayan nationalist politics. He was popular and later became head of the Kedah branch of UMNO.

In August 1951, an internal crisis in UMNO forced Datuk Onn Jaafar to resign as party president. Abdul Rahman was elected as the new president and he eventually held the post for almost 20 years.

In 1954, Abdul Rahman led a delegation to London to seek independence for Malaya, but the trip proved to be unfruitful. The British were reluctant to grant independence unless there was evidence that the different of races in Malaya were able to work together and cooperate in a new and independent country.

Race relations were the cause of Onn Jaafar stepping down. He wanted the Chinese and Indians to join UMNO but the UMNO members were not ready to accept that. His successor, Abdul Rahman saw another way round by forming a political alliance with the Malayan Chinese Association called the Alliance Party. The coalition proved to be popular among the people. The Alliance was later joined by the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) in 1955, representing the Indian community.

In the same year, the first federal general election was held and the Alliance Party (Parti Perikatan) won fifty-one out of the fifty-two seats contested. Abdul Rahman was elected as Malaya's first Chief Minister.

Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaiming Malayan independence.

Later in 1955 Abdul Rahman made another trip to London to negotiate Malayan independence, and 31 August, 1957 was decided as the date for independence. When the British flag was lowered in Kuala Lumpur on independence day, Abdul Rahman led the crowd by announcing "Merdeka!" (freedom!). Photographs of Abdul Rahman raising his hand, and recordings of his emotional but the determined voice leading the cheer have become familiar icons of anyone who is proudly name themselves, Malaysian.

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(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunku_Abdul_Rahman)