Constructing the political subjects : an analysis of Onn Jaafar's Bangsa and Kebangsaan (1946)

Abstract

The notion of Bangsa Melayu and Kebangsaan is known with its social and historical by-product. The Malayan Union crisis that occurred from 1946 to 1948 was an important event in Malaya as it commemorates the inception of the United Malay National Organization (UMNO) as the centre of Malay Nationalism. Not only that, the establishment of UMNO can also be seen as the emergence of Bangsa Melayu which is a crucial political signifier that shapes a new form of social relations for the Malays to fix their in-group solidarity and further strengthen their communal identity. From narrowly identified through their individual negeri (regional), the Malays shifted towards a new ideal of Bangsa Melayu as a potent political signifier, and this belief propagated to all the Malays populating the peninsula of Malaya. During this turbulent period, the aristocratic-led UMNO gained their political legitimacy to ascend to power by winning the support of the Malays and represent them in the nation-state foundation. Mutual agreement was reached through the new Anglo-Malay cooperation. As a result, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (PTM) was established and the ruling elite in UMNO was included, which finally revoked the initial declaration of the Malayan Union. It was through Onn Jaafar, an aristocrat and the founding father of UMNO, with his concerted efforts to amalgamate the state associations that were formerly known for their narrowly identified kenegerian was able to gather the divided Malays into a unitary expression of Bangsa Melayu and Kebangsaan through the establishment of UMNO as their primary vehicle. This study examines Onn Jaafar's significance as a native agent and his potential agency in performing his discursive articulations to represent the discourse of Bangsa and Kebangsaan publicly through his writings and speeches from 1946 to 1948. The agency of Onn was firstly preconditioned through the politics of Kerajaan that was so instrumental in the Malay political culture and its relation to the establishment of the colonial Good Government in Malaya. Finally, he rose towards political fame to unite the Malays during the period of dislocation due to the aftermath of the Japanese occupation. Utilizing the framework of discourse analysis, this study identifies how the role of Onn Jaafar was so instrumental to mobilize that identity into a political reaction that amalgamated all state associations to achieve a unitary force of Bangsa and Kebangsaan.