The document summarizes the rise and fall of communism in Malaya between the 1920s-1960. It describes how the Malayan Communist Party launched an armed uprising in 1948 in an attempt to take control after WWII, which led to a state of emergency being declared. A series of measures were then implemented to counter the communists including the Briggs Plan to relocate Chinese squatters, military operations, and psychological warfare. These efforts gradually weakened the communists until the emergency was lifted in 1960 after the MCP declined in influence and activities.

2. The Era of the Emergency
 Communism crept into Malaya in the 1920s from Rusia
through a branch of Communist Party in China.
 Chinese National Government’ and ‘Chinese
Communist’ in China splits in 1927 split Communist
movement in Malaya. Malayan Communist Party and
Koumintang
 MCP had been an underground movement except during
the years 1945 to 1948.
 After the WWII, MCP guerillas prepared a strategy to take
over the controlling power before the British resume their
rule of Malaya.

3. Communism Uprising and
Terrorism
 The Asian Communist Youth Congress held in Calcutta in
Feb 1948 greatly influenced the MCP.
 In June 1948, the MCP launched an armed uprising in
Malaya.
 MCP launched attacks on rubber estates and tin mines
causing many deaths and loss of means of livelihood.
 On 16 June 1948, Sir Edward Gent, a British
Commissioner, declared Perak and Johor emergency areas.
 On 17 June 1948, emergency was declared on the whole of
Malaya following the killing of 3 European estate
managers in Perak.
 On 23 July 1948, the MCP was officially outlawed.

4. Emergency Law
 The Emergency Law of 1948 gave powers to the
police and soldiers to arrest and detain communist
suspects without trial.
 Imposed roadblocks and curfew where communists
activities were rife.
 The registration system was also introduced where
citizens aged 12 years and above must register and
own an identification card known as identity card
(IC).

5. Communist Tactics
 The MCP used guerilla war tactics to cripple the
economy of Malaya
 On 6 Oct 1951, Sir Henry Gurney, the High
Commissioner was shot dead.
 His death spurred the British into action to eradicate
the communists and their activities.

6. Support for Communism
 The majority of the population did not support the
communist ideology.
 For the Malays, communism was against Islamic
teachings as it denied the existence of God.
 Republic Communist – royal institution would be
abolished.
 MCP dominated by the Chinese – created suspicion
among the Malays and Indians.
 Some Left Wing Party Malays supported Communist
get influenced from Indonesian Communist
 Some Malays joint MCP as 10th Regiment

7. Steps to eradicate communists
 The declaration of emergency
 The Briggs Plan
 Military steps
 Psychological warfare (the Templer Plan)

8. The Briggs Plan
1. The MCP also set up a supply and public spy unit
known as Min Yuen.
2. Min Yuen main two functions:
 Get food and medical supplies
 Obtain information on British activities.
3. Aimed at restricting the Min Yuen from supplying
food, medicine and information to the communists.
British Introduced
 curfews where soldiers were hunting for the communists.
 Launched starvation movement

9. The Briggs Plan
 Sir Harold Briggs introduced the plan by
relocating the squatter areas from the forest
to a new village
 Malayan Chinese Association established to
move Chinese from jungle area to New
Village area
 ensured food was not smuggled out for the
guerrilla communists
 Ration Card for New Village residents
 Identity Card introduced
 Black area and white area introduced

10. Military Measures
 Sir Gerald Templer, a military general, replaced Sir
Henry Gurney in 1952.
 He used firm military force to fight the
communists.
 Among others, he used 13 battalions of English
soldiers, Gurkhas and Malays.
 Formed home guard systems
with 210,000 soldiers.

11. Psychological Warfare
 Giving out pamphlets calling the communists to
give up their fight.
 making conditions easier for non-Malays to obtain
citizenship.
 Pardoning MCP members who surrendered
 Rewarding people who provided information on
communists terrorists.
 Introduced the White and Black Areas.

12. The Baling Negotiation, Dec 1955
 After experiencing a decline, the MCP decided to
negotiate with the government of Malaya.
 Held in Baling, Kedah on 28 Dec 1955.
 Tunku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall and Tun Tan
Cheng Lock represented the government while Chin
Peng, Chen Tien and Rashid Maidin represented the
MCP.
 The MCP asked to be legally recognized but was
turned down.
 The MCP rejected government’s counter offer and
refused to lay down their arms.

13. Impact of Emergency
 Loss of lives, the destruction of property and the cripple
of economy.
 worsened the racial issue.
 Challenge for the people to work together to defeat the
communist terrorists.
 The unity among the citizens of Malaya that convinced
the British to grant independence – (Social Contract –
Pakatan Murni)
 Gradually the influence and activities of the MCP
declined.
 On 31 July 1960, Tunku proclaimed the end of
emergency.
 MCP failed due to:
 1) their offensive acts 2) lack of support