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Jumaat, Oktober 26, 2007
"Unity, Liberty, Equality"
Kenyataan akhbar sempena ulangtahun pertama penubuhan Malayan
Democratic Union
(MDU) pada 21 Disember 1946.
On this, the occasion of the first anniversary of the founding
of the Malayan Democratic
Union, permit me to offer the President, the Executive Committee
and members my
cordial congratulations, coupled with the earnest prayer that
the Union, which occupies aunique position in this country in that
it embraces all race, will have a giant growth as an
organisation pledged to help to bring to fruition the ideal of a
democratic self-government
in a United Malaya, in which the different racial elements
comprised in its domiciledpopulation shall be ensured equality of
status and rights.
Emancipation from oppressive conditions, whether they be
political, social, or economic
can only be won at the price of personal endeavour. National
progress must be attainedby definitely organised and carefully
concerted endeavour. Success needs to be achieved
it cannot be granted or conferred.
Unless every one in a population regards not only his selfish
interests but also concerns
himself with his share of the collective interest,
self-government or good government is
not possible.
We have set a movement on foot at aiming at winning our freedom
by making Malaya
one country and one nation with a common destiny for its peoples
animated by a spirit ofbrotherhood and active co-operation for
mutual help and benefit in all spheres of life.
There is no other alternative if we Malayans of all races are
intent upon facing reality andsecuring the supreme political goods
of liberty and justice.
Trade, travel, migration and intercourse of all kinds being of
the very texture of human
life on this planet throughout the history of mankind, there is
no such thing even in the
modern world as a homogenous national state.
Further, the geographical position of Malaya, a rich and
underpopulated land with easy
reach of the overcrowded countries of China, India and Java, has
made a mixedpopulation inevitable.
Even in a mixed population the different communities, while
being politically united, canmaintain their own intellectual,
cultural and spiritual life.
A political philosopher has affirmed that in a population of
mixed communities if theGovernment assigns no privilege to any one
of them and chooses its instruments
indifferently from all; in the course of a few generations,
identity of situation often
produces harmony of feeling and the different races come to feel
towards each other asfellow countrymen; particularly if they are
dispersed over the same tract of country.
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So Malaya can become one country and one nation if the right
principles and policy are
followed, and the three principles by which we stand may be
condensed in the mottoUnity, Liberty and Equality.
In concrete form the three fundamental principles resolve
themselves into, firstly(a) a United Front of Malayan peoples based
on inter-communal concord and joint action;
and
(b) the political unification of the whole of Malaya, inclusive
of Singapore, as a unitarystate in all essential respects under one
central government;
secondly, a measure of self-government, providing for
(a) a Central Legislature of a United Malaya with substantial
elected unofficial majority;and
(b) the exercise of the executive power by a Ministry
responsible to the Legislature and
all matters of internal and civil administration;
and thirdly, the equality of status and rights for all those who
regard Malaya as their real
homeland and the object of their single-minded devotion and
loyalty.
Responsibility to the governed is the greatest of all securities
for good Government.
Malayans of all races! Unite to achieve Merdeka or freedom for
only in unity lies our
salvation.
Di atas merupakan kenyataan yang ditulis oleh Tan Cheng Lock
sempena ulangtahunpertama penubuhan Malayan Democratic Union (MDU)
pada 21 Disember 1946.
Kenyataan ini telah diterbitkan sepenuhnya dalam akhbar The
Malaya Tribune bertarikh
16 Disember 1946 di bawah tajuk"Malayans - Unite To Achieve
Merdeka (Freedom) -
Stand By 3 Principles of Unity, Liberty, Equality".
Enam hari selepas kenyataan ini keluar, pada 22 Disember 1946,
Pan-Malayan Council
of Joint Action (PMCJA) telah ditubuhkan untuk membantah
Perlembagaan Federation,di mana Tan Cheng Lock telah dijemput untuk
menjadi Pengerusi.
