Malayan Forum, 1939-1953: Suatu Perjuangan SiVil atau Polemik Aliran ? - Malayan Forum, 1949-1953: A Civil Struggle or Ideological Polemics ?

Abstract

This paper examines the link between democratic, socialist and communist ideology polemics in the nationalist movement under the Malayan Forum. In this regard, three aspects are discussed in refining the philosophy of the Malayan Forum, particularly in terms of the background of its establishment, goals and vision and early involvement of communist ideology. These three aspects will be reviewed in terms of polemics and ideas of the Malayan Forum in the early years. This is crucial to inculcate the ideology of intellectual politics to its members. At the same time, this discussion also highlighted the British government's response to communist involvement in the Malayan Forum in England. The situation is inevitable as the international political scenario also has an impact on the nationalism movement in Malaya. Nonetheless, competition among existing ideologies dragged the Malayan Forum into an open agenda that emphasized on the values of secularism based on civil political concepts. This paper presents a different side in explaining the links between the rise of democratic politics, socialist and communist influence in Malaya, and Singapore through ideas brought by Western-educated youth.