THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

Hawking Food 363
other reasons for replacing Dr Burhanuddin, apart from protecting the
MNP from enemy penetration, as mentioned by Ahmad Boestamam. We
realised that MNP’s strength lay in the support of left-wing non-Malay
parties who had been studying the MNP since Dr Burhanuddin’s return
from India and Burma right until the declaration of The People’s Constitutional
Proposal for Malaya.
Firstly, they were wary of a Malaya-Indonesia union, especially when
MNP was singing Indonesia’s national song with great gusto and when
Dr Burhanuddin was an obvious champion of the Indonesia Raya idea.
Secondly, The People’s Constitutional Proposal for Malaya was found
unsatisfactory except to the colonialists and their supporters. Thirdly, Dr
Burhanuddin struck no political deals in India. He seemed more enthralled
by the Taj Mahal than in building links. Fourthly, Dr Burhanuddin had
called on Aung San in Burma. Many non-Malay leftist parties and the
MNP itself feared that, like Aung San, Dr Burhanuddin would be happy
with just ‘self-government within a Commonwealth’. The Burmese masses
had wanted a free socialist republic and Aung San was later killed.
Ishak was unaware of this covert plan to appoint him MNP President.
We sent Bahrum bin Abdul Basar (now in Lenggeng, Negeri
Sembilan) to probe the matter. Ishak replied, “It is not easy to challenge
Dr Burhanuddin. Further, he is already on a campaign trail.” But we sent
Bahrum to see Ishak again, this time with a more direct question: “If Dr
Burhanuddin no longer wishes to be president, would you take over?”
Ishak responded, “Yes, I am willing!” To avoid any confrontation, a secret
meeting appointed a steering committee to propose that Dr Burhanuddin
be elevated to Adviser. MNP members at the MNP Congress in Melaka
will remember just how many identification documents each member had
to bring along. Ahmad Boestamam wrote, “Dr Burhanuddin did not
oppose the proposal at all; this shocked me. With that, followers who
worshipped Dr Burhanuddin followed suit and supported the motion.
When put to vote, Dr Burhanuddin won. The MNP constitution thus
needed an amendment to incorporate a new Adviser position.”
At my stall, I waited for the result of this motion. I thanked God that
it went unopposed. Thus, MNP was able to move at a faster pace and
with greater intensity under the leadership of Dr Burhanuddin and Ishak,
both politicians of the highest calibre.
Dr Burhanuddin’s Meeting with the CID Chief
With a firm hand, the British Government started to ban leftist Malay
and non-Malay parties. API was the first. Perhaps the British perceived