Emergence
PKMM was established on 17 October 1945 at its inaugural meeting from 16–17 October 1945. Apart from states representatives, present also was a representative from Pattani, Tengku Mahmood Mahyiddeen and a royal representative of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Hishammuddin Abdul Aziz Alam Shah who contributed $50,000.[3] The central committee consisted of:
- Mokhtaruddin Lasso - General Leader
- Dr Burhanuddin Al-Helmy - First Vice Chief
- Baharuddin Tahir@Taharuddin - Second Vice Chair
- Dahari Ali - Secretary
- Zulkifli Auni - Vice Secretary
- Ahmad Boestamam - Youth Chief
- Katijah Ali - Women's Affairs Chief
- Arshad Ashaari - Treasurer
- Salleh - Religious Chief[3]
PKMM's inaugural conference ran from 30 November 1945 to 4 December 1945 and featured a wide variety of activists from diverse backgrounds including communists, royalists, nationalists, Islamic preachers, socialists, students and proponents of Malay culture and customs.[4] The congress agreed that PKMM would be guided by the following goals:
- To unite the Malay race while planting the spirit of nationalism in the minds and hearts of the Malays so as to unite Malaya with the larger family of the Indonesia Raya.
- To advocate freedom in speech, movement, thought and education.
- To reinvigorate the economic status of the Malay race by promoting entrepreneurship and agriculture so as to enhance the Malay quality of life.
- To obtain freedom in cultivating crops. Cultivators should be freed from land taxes and be permitted to sell their harvests in any market.
- To demand that the Malays be provided with national schools where they could study any subjects for free.
- To demand freedom to publish books and teach democracy in order to uplift the state of Malay politics and encourage national among Malays.
- The PKMM would work together in harmony with other races in the country to create a Malayan United Front to achieve independence and prosperity for Malaya as part of the Republic of Indonesia Raya.
- To support the Indonesians in their movement to gain independence.[5]
Mokhtaruddin Lasso's decision to leave Malaya for Indonesia in 1946[6] saw Burhanuddin Al-Helmy assume the position of party leader. The new leadership was organised as follows:
- Burhanuddin Al-Helmy - General Leader
- Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako) - Vice Chief
- Zulkifli Auni - Secretary
- M. Maza - Vice Secretary
- Baharuddin Tahir@Taharuddin - Treasurer
- Ahmad Boestamam - Youth Chief
- Shamsuddin Salleh - Social Activities[7]
As of 1947 the party recorded 53,380 members with its strongholds in Perak and Pahang.[8]
More information State, Total Number of Members ...
State |
Total Number of Members |
Level of Activism |
Perak |
13350 |
High |
Pahang |
7100 |
High |
Terengganu |
5560 |
High |
Malacca |
4970 |
High |
Selangor |
4950 |
High |
Penang |
3600 |
High |
Kelantan |
3080 |
Moderate |
Singapore |
2740 |
High |
Negeri Sembilan |
2620 |
Moderate |
Seberang Perai |
1640 |
Moderate |
Johor |
1530 |
Low |
Perlis |
920 |
Low |
Close
Tensions between Burhanuddin Al-Helmy and youth leader Ahmad Boestamam, who advocated radical actions to challenge colonial rule led to establishment of separate women's and youth wings. Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API) formed the radical youth wing of the party led by Ahmad Boestamam whilst Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS) formed the women's wing of the party led by Shamisah Fakeh.