Hartal Day: The day of people's democracy struggle

SHAH ALAM – In commemoration of the fight and resistance of the people of Malaya against British colonisers and local elites for an inclusive, democratic, progressive, and independent Malaya, the Youth Wing of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today wishes a Happy Hartal Day.

The Hartal Day which falls on Oct 20, 1947 - some 75 years ago - marked an important turning point in the constitutional struggle of the people for freedom from British colonialism.

In a series of a graphical posters on its Twitter account, PSM shared that before the existence of the early Alliance Party (Umno-MCA) and the Social Front, a coalition of the Malayan Labour Party and the Malayan People's Party, Hartal 1947 was implemented by the AMCJA-Putera coalition, which was the first Malay and non-Malay organisation coalition in the history of our homeland (PRM).

PSM advised that to move forward as a nation, we must understand where we came from, what decisions were made against us, and how those decisions continue to influence the issues we face today.

Ten years before Merdeka, when the people of Malaya were split in 1947, the people's democratic movement rose to prominence in Malaya today.

The British and Umno supported a new Federation of Malaya with an anti-democratic constitution.

On the other hand, Putera-AMCJA, the most powerful multiethnic force in Malayan history, favored a constitution for the new Federation of Malaya that was inclusive, democratic, and progressive.

A number of Hartals such as mass protests, strikes and civil disobedience were successfully organised by PUTERA-AMCJA throughout October 1947.

PSM said we still lacked equal access to public facilities, funds, and opportunities even after 75 years.

“Although the will of the people was ultimately defeated by the British colonisers and local elite collaborators, the fight continues with us, and we will ultimately win,” PSM wrote in a post.

Today, let's recall and rejoice in the historic day when the people of Malaya came together to fight for democracy and their freedom from colonial rule, suggesting that October 20th be declared as "Hartal Day," or the Day of the People's Democracy Struggle, as a significant day in the history of the people's fight.