AHMAD BOESTAMAM

1920-1983

TOPICS:

BACKGROUND KMM KITA PKMM PRM

IMAGE

BACKGROUND

Born in Kampung Behrang Hulu, Tanjung Malim, Perak on 30 November 1920.

Original name Abdullah Sani b. Raja Kechil. Attended Malay school until standard five

then continued his study at Anderson School in Ipoh until form three ( Junior Cambridge)

Background

Started his career as journalist. Sent his works to Saudara, Warta Malaya and Majlis.

1937-1940: Work with Saudara, then Warta Kinta, then Majlis, then Utusan Melayu, then Warta Malaya. Opportunity to meet other nationalist leaders like Abdul rahim Kajai, Ibrajhim Hj. Yaacob, Ishak Hj. Muhammad.

Background

Involved in nationalist movement: proposed his ideas to improve the Malays position: economic, social and political.

WRITINGS

Testamen Politik Api , 1946 Kabus Pagi. Singapura: Geliga, 1958. Pacar Merah Malaya. Singapura: Halmy, 1948. Gelap Menjelang Terang. Singapura: Geliga,

1956. Merintis Jalan Ke Puncak, 1972 Sorotan Sekilas (1981), Lambaian Dari Puncak

(1983), Tujuh Tahun Malam Memanjang (1976), Rumah Kaca Di Gegar Gempa (1969), dan Api Dan Air Mata (1967).

KMM

Appointed as the Assistant Secretary. Minor role during Japanese period.

• Proposed the establishment of Anti-Communist Association to save Malay people.

• Established Barisan Pemuda Melayu (BPM) in 1943. Objective: to unite the Malays to give support to Japanese power. Encourage to join Giyu-tai and Giyu-gun.

BPM

Suara Rakyat: criticized British and not the Japanese.

Unable to use the opportunity during 13 days transition periods to unite the Malays.

• Ethnic riot between the Malays and Chinese: Sungai Manik, Bekor and Slim River.

• PKM persuaded him to form PKMM.

PKMM

PKMM leaders including Boestamam were taught on the communist doctrine.

Objective of PKM to establish a Malayan based on communist ideology.

To balance the objective, the concept of Melayu Raya was included as a PKMM objective.

• “ Malah dasar ini memang sengaja ditonjolkan begitu hebat olehnya dan kumpulannya demi untuk mengelakkan pandangan orang ramai terhadap penguasaan PKM di dalam PKMM. Ini juga telah membolehkan PKMM mendapat simpati daripada orang keturunan Indonesia yang menetap di Tanah Melayu.” Ramlah Adam, p. 160

PKMM

1946: PKMM representatives had no position in UMNO.

Withdrew from UMNO. UMNO was recognized by the British and

Malay rulers. Choose to oppose British and UMNO. Establish Putera. Join with AMCJA to

produce People Constitution.

PKMM

Establish API. Withdrew it from PKMM. Strategy of open confrontation. Independence

through Blood struggle. Detained for his book Testament Politik API. API was banned 1948 he was detained during emergency

period.

.

API The Banning of API by the British colonialists taught him

several lessons for the struggle:• The proper posture to adopt in the struggle is that of padi- the more it bows

the riper it is. On no account adopt the posture of the rooster- which keeps on crowing while dung shoots out the rear.

• It is true that people say that a hen’s character is bad because when it lays a single egg it throws the whole village into an uproar. But there is at least some good in this too, for the cackling that awakes the whole village comes after the egg is produced and not before.

• There is no light without darkness. For this reason the attitude in facing the light and the attitude in facing the dark cannot possibly be the same. When they are made alike, indications are that foxes wearing chicken feathers will seize their chance.

• A suspicious attitude is always necessary. With this attitude anyine engaged in the struggle will be freed of the view that “ everything that glitters is a true diamond”.

During Emergency

“The Emergency Regulations killed off all left-wing organisations in the country at that time. Many of their members who were not caught in the net of the Emergency regulations fled to the jungle to begin a guerilla war under the leadership of the communists.”

• Carving the path to the Summit, p. 144

PRM 1955: Released from the jail. Form new party Malay opposition leader using sosialisme-marhaenisme

(introduced by Sukarno). Form Socialist Front with the Malaya Labour Party. “

Malayan”• “Konsep gabungan dengan orang bukan Melayu yang

diamalkan oleh Ahmad Boestamam telah membolehkan beliau menjadi seorang pemimpin “Malayan” dalam erti kata yang sebenarnya. Jika pada tahun 1946-1948, beliau bekerjasama dengan orang bukan Melayu kerana satu strategi menentang UMNO dan British, tetapi kali ini, dalam usaha untuk mencapai kemerdekaan, konsep kerjasama antara kaum dalam politik Malaysia, menjadi satu dasar politik bagi semua kaum.” Ramlah, p. 166

1959: won the Setapak seat.

MP “ Sebagai anggota parlimen, Ahmad

Boestamam bukanlah seorang pembangkang yang hanya ‘memanaskan kerusi’ semata-mata. Beliau merupakan seorang pembangkang yang cergas dan penuh dengan idea yang tidak putus-putus disumbangkannya selama menjadi Ahli Parlimen. Perbincangannya meliputi semua isu sam ada politik, ekonomi dan sosial. Cara tegurannya kepada kerajaan Perikatan adalah sangat terbuka dan berterus-terang. “ Ramlah, p. 167,

Post-MP period

1963-1967: Detained: Opposing the concept of Malaysia.

Continued his position in PRM. Left the party.

1970: Form Marhaein Party. Failed. Invited by Dato’ Patinggi Abdul Rahman

Yaakub to join Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak ( Berjasa).

1970’s

1974: Work with Dr. Tan Chee Koon to form PEKEMAS ( Parti Keadilan Masyarakat).

Contested in 1974 election for Hilir Perak seat. Defeated. Retired.

Went to Sarawak to assist Dato’ Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yaakub. Conferred title Datuk by the YDPN of Sarawak in 1978.