Summary

The struggle for independence can be divided into two phases i.e the struggle with bloodshed and the struggle through negotiation. The first phase of struggle had seen many people killed. The second phase had witnessed the efforts to avoid bloodshed in which many associations were formed and the mass media were utilized to stir the spirit of nationalism. The struggle became earnest when the British introduced the Malayan Union specially the Malays who had shown the strongest opposition due to the erosion of the Malay ruler's powers and sovereignty as well as the Malay's rights. To make their struggle more effective, many political parties were formed with various objectives. Some were formed on ethnicity base and some were cross ethnicity. Even though the British government had received much opposition, they were still reluctant to grant independence to the country because of the problem of unity among the people. Thus, UMNO, MCA and MIC had formed a pact known as Alliance Party and won a victory in the 1955 General Elections. The victory had become a proof on the unity of the people. Then, the leaders of the Alliance Party took initiative to go to London to negotiate with the British government. The negotiation succeeded in which the British government agreed to grant independence to the country on 31 August 1957.