Turning point that shaped Malaysia’s race-based politics

Idealistic early days: Onn giving a speech after the Umno flag was raised for the first time in Kluang, Johor, in 1946. Photo: National Archives

While listening to a radio show about racism the other day, I heard a comment about how Onn Jaafar was the first national leader who advocated political parties on non-racial lines. It was a comment that immediately made me sit up and think, “Good point – if only it were true”.

It’s understandable why many believe Onn was a visionary who dreamt of a united Malaya undivided by race. In June 1950, he championed the principle that anybody born in Malaya should automatically get citizenship. A year later, he tried to make Umno multiracial by allowing non-Malays to become full members.