THE MEMOIRS OF MUSTAPHA HUSSAIN - Malaysia Today

Print Capitalism 393
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Rakyat Press (1957): Print Capitalism
Rakyat Trading Co. Ltd – or the People’s Trading Co. Ltd – was a leftwing
Malay business concern located at No. 29, Jalan Hale, Ipoh. It had
humble beginnings in 1946 when a group of left-wing Malay nationalists
bought over a press from Raja Abdullah, an Ipoh Malay businessman. At
one time, the company published a Malay paper called Warta Kinta. Its
shareholders were mostly Malay teachers, small businessmen, writers and
a few better-off Malays. All were nationalists who believed in the ‘struggle
by the people and for the people’.
According to Chikgu Mohd Isa Sulaiman, who contributed a lot of
energy and time to the company, the founding members and directors
included Arshad Ashaari from Bidor, Haji Yahaya from Teluk Intan, Abdul
Rahman Rahim from Ipoh, and several Malay businessmen from Sitiawan,
Bagan Datuk, Kuala Kangsar and Padang Rengas. They were then
followed by Ustaz Abu Bakar Al-Baqir, Pak Chik Ahmad and Hanif
Sulaiman from North Perak. The name Rakyat Trading Co. Ltd. was
chosen by none other than Ishak Haji Muhammad.
I played a role, not only in keeping the company alive, but also
invested much money, energy and time in the project. In fact, during its
formation, my political friends and I slept on the premises, on old straw
mats with our arms as pillows. But as soon as it was ready, operations
were taken over by Pak Chik Ahmad.
A Meeting in My House in Kemunting – March 1957 1
At about 8.00 pm one evening in March 1957, I was visited by five
Malay nationalists: Ustaz Abu Bakar Al-Baqir from Gunung Semanggol,
Pak Chik Ahmad from Taiping, Chikgu Yusuf bin Abdul Rahman 2 from
Ipoh, Chikgu Basir bin Uduh from Taiping, and Chikgu Ariffin bin
Ibrahim, also from Taiping. Before I could even offer them drinks, Pak
Chik Ahmad blurted out the sad fate of the Rakyat Trading Co., expressing
his readiness to hand over management. Monthly sales had not even