Problem of ethnocentrism

There was no nationalist movement in

Malaya before the invasion Japan; the
communities were separated into self-
contained Malay, Chinese and Indian
societies and did not get along very well.
The Chinese and Indians, with their older,
more sophisticated civilizations, looked
down on the Malays, and the Malays
resented the wealth of the Chinese and
Indian newcomers. In 1943, Malayas
people first became interested in politics
when the Japanese gave Malayas four
northern sultanates to Thailand, these states
would be returned to British control in 1945.

Previously, the Japanese presented

themselves to Malay-Muslims as their
patron, respectful of Islam and of Malay
culture. They fostered pan-Malay
consciousness and gave Malays new
opportunities in administration. They also
encouraged those young Malay radicals
hoping for links with the Indonesian
nationalists, though few peninsular Malays
supported them and the idea would not get
far. The Indians of Malaya were encouraged
by the Japanese to focus their political
thoughts on India. Thus each of the different
race as yet do not have a common
nationalism, each were concerned with a
form ethno-nationalism.

We can see a few examples of ethno-

centrism in practice during this period.