The Klang Strike 1941- Between "Best Planned" and "Best Organised" - Bukit Panjang Estate, Jeram Incident

 As we discussed the events and incidents evolving in the Klang Strike 1941, we noticed there were adequate evidences to suggest there was a clear leadership, effective communication and coordinated call for actions in leading the strike which galvanised over 20 thousand Indian workers (most are born and bred on estates in Malaya)  from over 120 estates in Selangor and some part of Negeri Sembilan. 

This evidence are in sync with notion proposed by Taiwan historian, Tai Yuan, who wrote extensively on labour unrest in Malaya. Tai Yuan claimed in his work that the Klang Strike was one of the "best organised" labour strikes in Malaya.

Now, some of the local scholars would mistakenly understood "best organised" over "best planned" strike ever staged by Indians in Malaya with a sense of over zealousness. Best organised not necessarily means best planned as the latter would have led to different outcome of the strike. Well planned strike would have the leaders to see through the exit plan or even in some strikes, the organiser would escalated the strike to a different stage, which we did not see in the Klang Strike 1941.    

The reason why I am saying the Klang Strike count not be the "best planned" strike in Malaya after coming across a newspaper report on the court case proceeding related to Bukit Sembilan Estate incident on the 9th May 1941.

Author's impression police court (closed for public) chaired by Kuala Selangor District Officer A.D York. OSPC Kuala Selangor and Port Swettenham gave evidence on Death Inquiry of Rengasamy and Yellumalai - Bukit Panjang Estate Incident. 

The Malayan Tribune reported on 25th June 1941 on a court inquest proceeding chaired by Kuala Selangor District Officer A.D York. In the inquest, R. Burns, the OSPC Klang and Port Swettenham gave his account on incident took place. 

Author's impression on labourer protesting attempts by Manager Mr.Gomm removing the rubber consignments using Jawanese and Chinese labourers. Indian labourers on the Bukit Panjang Estate were on strike demanding for the rights. 

1. In his first attempt to remove rubber sheet consignment from the store on the 8th May turned futile. The Bukit Panjang estate Manager, Mr. Gomm informed that he would remove the consignment using Chinese and Jawanese workers as the Indians labourer are on strike. 

2. On the 9th May accompanied by police officers, Mr. Gomm arrived the estate at around 2.30 afternoon. 

3. The labourers blocked the entrance and was seen armed with sticks and stone. They were youngsters within 15 to 20 years old.

4. Four lorries drawn up to a wooden bridge. The CPO Forbes Wallace ordered R.Burns to guard the bridge.

5. When Burns arrived at the bridge, he was some of the labourers are removing the planks.

6. The drivers of the lorries drove to a little further where a concrete bridge located and noticed tree trunks are placed across blocking the path. 

7. When the police attempt to remove the tree trucks to allow the lorries to move into the estate, they met with angry labourers who threw stones, sticks and bottles. The labourers confronted the drivers and yelled at the them and questioning their intention to come to the estate knowing the labourers are on strike demanding their rights.

8. The police was badly outnumbered facing a hundred angry youngsters.

9. A police sergeant injured on his right leg. Burns was injured on his right ankle. The police managed to disperse the crowd. 

10. As the lorries with consignments were not retrieved yet from the estate, the police returned with a greater strength of 160 personnel. At 3.30pm to 4pm - the labourers regrouped and armed themselves with sticks, stone and long slender poles with sharpened and pointed  at one edge - spears. At this time the police were met with 500 to 600 labourers. They were organised from nearby estates. In the clash  two casualties - Rengasamy from Bukit Cheraka Estate and Yellumalai from Highlands Estate.

11. In the confrontation, OCPD Kuala Selangor Stockdale had a bad cut on his eye. 

12. Labourer dispersed after the clash. Not long after, another group of labourers reappeared. Four Tamils from the group approached Burns and expressed their regrets over the incident and said sorry.  Around 6.30pm, Burns told the labourers to go back to their home. 

Author's impression on the Bukit Panjang Incident on the 9th May 1941 resulted in two deaths - Rengasamy (Bukit Cheraka Estate) and Yellumalai (Highlands Estate) - Klang Strike 1941

It is quite puzzling why they were four Tamils approached the OSPC expressing their regrets over the incident and asking for forgiveness. If this would have been a planned attack, workers would not interfered in midst of riot/clash. The labourers would have been continue with the attack as the police were outnumbered. More casualties among the police would occurred.

My presumption is that the first group of labourers would have been the hot-headed youngsters who tried to confront the police on their own. The four Tamils would have been the Kanganies who also stood in solidarity with the workers but they are not a hot-headed like the youngsters. 

My conclusion was this was not well planned but a well organised strike. If this would have been well planned strike, the labourers would not avoided casualties and would not have a group of kanganies or elder labourers apologizing over the undesirable incident to the police force. 

 

        

Linden Estate Labourers Stood in Solidarity with Klang Strike 1941

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.    

 

 Communists in INA - Indian Daily Mail 

Singapore Tuesday 22nd March 1951

Saturday Radio Malaya devoted considerable time to a lengthy talk by Major R.J Isaac of the Directorate of Anti-Bandit Operations in Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, on "Indian Communists and Emergency." It is was intended as a propaganda material, the effect, we are afraid must have been the exact opposite of what was expected. For the speaker himself admitted in his talk that there not even one hundred Indian Communists involved in the terrorist troubles in Malaya. That being so, the devoting of a special talk to Indian Communists would, by magnifying the meagre role of the so-called "Indian Reds" actually bring discredit  to the Emergency propaganda itself. 

Long long ago, a mots responsible Malayan Indian leader and the very Representative of the Government of India, Mr. John A Thivy had categorically declared that "Indians have no art and part in the Malayan Emergency." The position had not, in our opinion, changed in any way ever since, so far as the Indian are concerned. The fact that Major Isaac has spoken more about Trade Unionism than about Red Terrorism in his talk on the "Indian Communists and Emergency" is a proof of the most insignificant destructive role that Indians have played in the Emergency and of the most significant constructive role they have been playing in the Trade Union Movement.

We would dismissed this subject without any comments whatsoever, for by commenting we are only giving undue importance to something which really doesn't deserve any notice at all because of its utter insignificance but we are prompted to do so only because of a certain reference which Major Isaac had made to the Indian National Army in the course of his talk on "Indian Communists and Emergency." Major Isaac says: "There were few Indian Communists in the jungle as guerillas during Japanese Occupation but many Indians risked their lives supporting the guerrillas, not as Communists but as a true patriotic anti Japanese spirit. Communists did flourish however to some extent in the ranks of Japanese sponsored Indian National Army, the chief organiser being S.A Ganapathy who with about 30 followers, attempted to convert others to Communism. He maintained contact with the Communist guerillas in the jungle and at the Japanese surrender, rejoined the Communist Party."

Indeed, this is the first time we are hearing of "Communism flourishing" in INA! So far, no book either on the INA or the IIL or even on the Indian Independence Movement in South East Asia as a whole and such books are not for a few - contains any reference whatever to the presence of Communists or to the Communists playing a role in any of these organizations. Of course, the late Ganapathy was in the movement but the only episode that some ex-INA officers who are still in Malaya might recall about him is that he was once given the "quarter-guard" for indiscipline! Otherwise he was obscure as anything. At the tome of the surrender, strict instructions had been to the INA men never to hand over their arms and ammunitions to the Japanese or the guerillas, but only direct to the British Re-Occupational Force. They were also instructed to stick to their weapons for the purpose of self-defence and in any case never to give them away to the Japanese or the guerillas. On the contrary, it was the Japanese and the British themselves who gave arms to the guerillas! Indeed whoever are responsible for arming the Malayan terrorists, no one would point the finger of accusation against the Indians. That they had "no art and part in the Emergency" is no mere propaganda utterance but a hard fact.      

Indian Protest on Ganapathy's Execution - Reported in London

India Protest Again - Malaya Tribune 7 May 1949

Reuter A.P

London Mon-Indians High Commissioner, Mr V.K Krishna Menon today made "strong-representation to Lord Listowel Minister of State of Colonies, over the case of an Indian, Sambasivam, who is now under the sentence of death in Malaya under the emergency regulations. 

A Colonial Officer spokesman told Reuter tonight that "these representation have been transmitted to the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney," The spokesman had no further comment to make. 

Malaya Tribune - 7th May 1949

It is learnt that today's representations follow similar representations made by Mr. Menon over the weekend to Lord Listowel for the "un urgent re-examination in the case of Sambasivam"

A demand that India forthwith stop all aid to Malaya in reprisal for the recent execution of Indian Labour leaders in Malaya was made in Madras today by the Indian Socialist Party.

Ganapathy, President of the Pan Malayan Trades Union Federation, was executed in Malaya recently for alleged possession of arms. Reuter A.P  

Sambasivam Case : Sultan May Reconsider Sentence

 

Malaya Tribune - 18 May 1949

New Delhi - Tuesday

The New Delhi station of All India Radio announced this evening that the execution of Malayan Indian Sambasivam sentenced to death under the Malayan Emergency Regulation, has not been carried out and that the Sultan of Johore is reconsidering the case.

According to the original information that Radio announcement said, the execution of Sambasivam was scheduled to take place on Monday, May 16. 

The Radio announcement did not mention whether any reply has been received from the British Government in London to the representation made by the Indian Government last week for a "reconsideration of the case."

India's High Commissioner in London, Mt V.K Krishna Menon last week presented to Arthur Creech Jones, Colonial Secretary, India's "strong protest" over the sentence of execution passed by the Malayan Government on Sambasivam. Krishna Menon also saw Atlee, the Prime Minister and expressed India's concern over the issue - A.P  

Sambasivam Trial : Judge Disagrees and Orders Retrial

 

The Straits Times - 10 March 1949 

Judge Disagrees, Orders Retrial

Johore Bahru Mar 4 - Narayanasamy Sambasivam, a Tamil was at the end of an emergency trial found not guilty by the assessors of two charges. First, of carrying arms and secondly of being in possession of ten rounds or ammunition,

Mr. Justice Laville disagreed with the assessors' verdict on the first charges and ordered a retrial. 

His Lordship agreed with the assessors verdict on the second charges and acquitted the accused.

According to the evidence the accused was in the company of two Chinese when they were met by three Malays on a kampong path at Bukit Kepong near Muar on Sept 13.

There was a flight between the two parties. Shots were fired and one was killed. 

Sambasivam Sentenced to Death - 24 Match 1949

 

The Straits Times - 24 March 1949

Johor Bahru, Wed - Sambasivam, Secretary of the Segamat Rubber Worker Union, was today sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Storr after he had been found guilty of carrying arms.

Sambasivam pulled out an automatic during a struggle in which he and two Chinese companions fought with three Malays at Bukit Kepong.

In his defense, Sambasivam who was defended by Mr. P.V Charry, said that he did not know where he automatic came from nor could he say why he was attached by the Malays. 

Notice of appeal was given.

Sambasivam To be Hanged on 16th May - Johore Sultan Must Decide - Creech-Jones

 

Malaya Tribune- 14 May 1949

Johore Sultan Must Decide - Creech Jones

London, Fri - The British Government today replied to India's representative on the death sentence passed in Johore on the Indian, Sambasivam, it was learned today from a usually reliable source. 

The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Author Creech-Jones, saw the Indian High Commissioned, Mr. V.K Krishna Menon and made the reply orally. 

The British Government, the Colonial Secretary is reported to have said, had no jurisdiction over Johore which was a protected state and the Sultan of Johore was the final authority in the matter. 

The execution of Sambasivam found guilty under the emergency regulations of carrying arms is scheduled for May 16. 

   

Sambasivam Granted Leave to Appeal to Privy Council

 

Indian Daily Mail - 27 July 1949

Sambasivam Granted leave to Appeal to Privy Council 

London. July 26 - Sambasivam, Indian trade unionist sentenced to death under the Malayan Emergency Regulations for carrying arms, was today granted leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The Johore Government last month stayed the execution after Mr. John Thivy Government of India's representative in Malaya had served notice that Sambasivam had decided to petition for special leave to appeal to Privy Council in London. Mr. Thivy said the Government of Indian were financing the petition.   

Madras Paper's Plea - Indian Daily Mail 17 April 1950

 

 

Indian Daily Mail : Madras Paper's Plea 17 April 1950

From Our Correspondent:

Madras, April 16 - The Hindu commenting editorially regarding the rearrest of Sambasivam by the Malayan authorities after release as the result of  Privy Council decision, hoped that the Indian Government Representative Mr. J.A Thivy's efforts to get him to repatriated to Indian would be succeed. 

The Hindu added "It is gratifying to find that Mr. Thivy is continuing his good work in the case of Sambasivam" and recalled how Mr. Thivy's strenuous efforts had wo a last minute reprieve when the labour leader was about to be executed for allegedly offence against Emergency Regulations.    

"Sambasivam has consistently maintained that he was only a trade union worker and not connected with the Communist terrorists. On top of that there was the fact that he had been in prison for the last two years and could not possibly have had any contacts with lawless elements. But Malayan authorities' object in re-arresting him is presumably to prevent the possibilities of his association with terrorist once he is free.  We can see no warrant for the assumption. Anyhow if they think it would involve too great a risk to allow Sambasivam to go about freely in Malaya, they should have no objection to his repatriation which have been done in the case of certain other Indians.   

Sambasivam: Govt States Reasons - Malayan Tribune 13 April 1950

 

Malaya Tribune - 13 April 1950 

Sambasivam : Govt States Reasons

The Federation Government statement on the re-arrest of Sambasivam said the reason for ordering the detention of Sambasivam was that prior to being charged with carrying an unlicensed revolve, his activities were such that there were grounds for believing his detention was desirable in the interests of peace and order.

Sambasivam had right under the rule 3 of Emergency Regulation to lodge an objection against the order of detention.