THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

PUTERA-AMCJA Conference 347
I was forced to stand up another time to respond to his words. I forgot
how to remain calm and collected. I had forgotten about compromise and
co-operation. Luckily, I remembered Sutan Jenain’s words, “Be hot in the
heart, but not in the head.” With whatever was left of my composure, I
said, “Look at the appearance of PUTERA members, the Malays, at this
conference. Their hair uncombed, clothes unkempt and not ironed. Some
did not have a chance to wash as they slept in bus stations and train
stations in order to attend this conference. Some did not even have
breakfast. They drank coffee out of a pail. But you, sir (looking at John
Eber), even though you were given a comfortable rattan chair, you still
need a folded towel to serve as a cushion. Who among us truly needs
Independence, you or us?” John Eber got up to pull the folded towel off
his chair. His face was red with anger. He was enraged, but I could not
care less. An insult for an insult!
The Chairman stood up to calm the situation and again suggested
the quota issue be discussed by a sub-committee. The outcome was
positive. AMCJA agreed to the 60-40 quota. I was thankful to God for
His blessings. The Malay States and the Malay people were now secure
and safe. This would maintain Malay pre-eminence. The outcome would
guarantee the future of the Malays, especially in a situation where non-
Malay votes may outnumber Malay votes. I must add that MIC John
Thivy in the AMCJA kept his word by giving us his vote every time, to
our mutual benefit.
Outcome
The ten principles we discussed came to be known as the Ten People’s
Principles, to represent all communities. Since The People’s Constitutional
Proposals for Malaya was endorsed and announced to the nation, the
PUTERA-AMCJA partnership was reinforced because the masses, not the
administrators and the elite, were strongly behind us. The final copy of
The People’s Constitutional Proposals for Malaya was sent to the British
Government as the voice of the different communities living in Malaya
who clamoured for Independence. The people’s response to the constitution
was proof of their spirit. But the British appeared unconcerned,
refusing to hold discussions with us, or even to read the constitution, as
if nothing urgent was happening. We had to think of our next constitutional
move. As a result, the hartal 7 of October 1947 was organised
and received widespread support from the people. Shops and business
houses shut their doors. Kuala Lumpur looked deserted.