The Klang Strike 1941 which was regarded as the most brutal and best organized plantation labour strike in Malaya. As per reported in Penang Gazette and State Chronicle dated 16th May 1941, the strike extended to estates in Sepang and even labourers of one estate in the southern part of Johor, Linden Estate, stood in solidarity with labourers in Klang.
Linden Estate covered a huge area in Skudai Johor. The University Technology Malaysia (known as UTM) was built on this estate land. The nearby housing areas such as Taman Sri Skudai, Taman Pulai and Taman Universiti were once belong to the Linden Estate. I have very fond memories of attending prayers on every Friday from 1993 to 1997 at the estate temple - Linden Mariamman Temple which was later relocated to Taman Sri Skudai. The Linden Tamil Schools was also relocated to Taman Tun Aminah with a new name SJKT Tun Aminah.
The newspaper reported:
1. Five more states had gone on strike in Kuala Lumpur district making a total of 32 estates in the district.
2. Constant vigilance exercised by police and military who continued patrol estate roads throughout the Selangor to prevent strike spreading to other states.
3. From Seremban reported that 300 labourers from two divisions from Tanah Merah Estate in Sepang had gone to strike. Anyway, one division returned to work on the 15th May 1941. Police had been summoned to Sepang and Controller of Labour has gone to Sepang to investigate.
4. In Johor, strike was reported on Linden Estate.
5. Government claimed that effort to intimidate labourers still continue in Negeri Sembilan. Estate in Selangor slowly coming to normal as labourers are returning to work. A number of arrest had been made.
6. One one estate, the manager with help of some labourers chased of a group of intimidators and detained 16 labourers before handed to the police.
Note: One of the reasons for the failure of the Klang Strike 1941 was due to disunity among the labourers especially those who were born in Malaya and those who had been brought from India. Those from India would easily intimidated or fall for favour by the estate staff and managers. Those born here were reported demonstrated vigorous opposition against atrocities committed by the estate management.
