Malaysian Citizens Choose to Join Indonesia, Pledge Loyalty to Homeland

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Approximately eight decades ago, Indonesia and Malaysia nearly merged into a single sovereign entity under the Greater Indonesia concept. Although Malay Peninsula residents once strongly showed support by hoisting the Red and White flag, the ambitious plan to unite the two closely related regions ultimately failed. The unification scenario was discussed when three PPKI delegates—Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, and Radjiman Wedyodiningrat—travelled to Dalat, Vietnam on 12 August 1945 to meet Marshal Terauchi. During this diplomatic meeting, Japan’s highest military authority promised full independence for Indonesia on 24 August 1945. On their return journey, Sukarno’s delegation stopped in Singapore and Taiping to meet Malay nationalist leaders Ibrahim Yaacob and Burhanuddin Al-Helmy. Both were leaders of KMM and KRIS, organisations fighting to liberate Malaya from British rule. The meeting gave rise to the Greater Indonesia concept, encompassing Indonesia, Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, and North Borneo. According to researcher Graham Brown’s 2005 study, the idea emerged from collaboration between local figures and Japan. At the time, Sukarno stated: ‘Let us create one homeland for those of Indonesian blood.’ Ibrahim Yaacob replied: ‘We Malays will remain loyal in creating a homeland by uniting Malaya with an independent Indonesia.’ However, the unification plan did not receive full approval. Historian Boon Kheng Cheah wrote in Red Star Over Malaya (1983) that Mohammad Hatta and other figures may have rejected the unity idea. Shortly after, Japan surrendered to the Allies on 14 August 1945. This prompted Jakarta’s youth groups to demand an immediate independence proclamation. Following the Rengasdengklok incident, Indonesia declared independence on 17 August 1945, ahead of Japan’s original schedule. At that time, the Greater Indonesia concept collapsed. Ibrahim Yaacob had to change his struggle’s direction, while Malaysia gained independence 12 years later on 31 August 1957.