THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

332 Memoirs of Mustapha Hussain
a former member of the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA).
(After the Japanese surrender, Rashid Maidin was selected to go to
London for the Victory Parade to march past His Majesty King George
VI. Rashid was even awarded a medal.)
I would like to add that it was at that point 3 that Dr Burhanuddin
separated API from MNP. He explained that it was time to sever API’s
umbilical cord, as MNP had become too large. The youth body would
function separately, but with the same noble objective of ‘Merdeka’. I
whispered to Dr Burhanuddin that it was perhaps also time to set up the
Ant Army, as in Indonesia, to move together with API.
Meeting Ibu Zain 4
Most unexpectedly, Hajah Zainun, an active UMNO Women leader better
known as Ibu Zain, paid us a visit. Also in the room were Dr Burhanuddin,
Abdul Hamid bin Abdul and myself. Dr Burhanuddin introduced me as
“a foremost freedom fighter and a former KMM Vice President just
released from political detention.” The kind lady congratulated me and
added, “I like to get to know MNP leaders. They are all small in size but
big in their political struggles.”
After some discussions on Malay politics, Ibu Zain asked plainly, “If
the MNP is fighting for Malaya’s Independence, why are you singing
Indonesia Raya and not an Independent Malaya song?” Dr Burhanuddin
replied that both countries were aspiring towards the same objectives. He
then added, “That is only a party song. There is nothing wrong with MNP
singing Indonesia Raya. Furthermore, aren’t we and Indonesia one and
the same? The only difference between us were our colonial masters.”
Ibu Zain left a lasting impression on me, with her gentle suggestion
that MNP compose its own anthem, free of Indonesian influence. Indonesia
Raya was sung by MNP members at all MNP and API ceremonies,
including flag-raisings, guard of honour inspections and openings of
meeting. It was on such occasions that long haired and bushy-moustached
API leader Ahmad Boestamam looked the pinnacle of invincibility as he
sang the tune with great gusto.
After Ibu Zain left, we discussed her most observant comment. I
shared her opinion that our fight should be separate from Indonesia’s.
Should Indonesia gain its Independence before Malaya, the Indonesians
would be better able to promote our cause at the United Nations. If we
were to gain our freedom first, we would do likewise for Indonesia. I
drew Dr Burhanuddin’s attention to the British sense of fair play. If we
planned to become independent from the British, but wanted to latch