PERDEBATAN ANTARA KAUM MENGENAI ISU KERAKYATAN SEBELUM MERDEKA

Abstract

This article examines the debate revolving around the issue of citizenship between 1946 and 1957. This article will examine the introduction of the Malayan Union citizenship, the
subsequent Federation of Malaya Agreement in 1948 and the debate surrounding the
citizenship issue. The second part of the article will concentrate the debate surrounding the citizenship during the formulation of the 1957 federal constitution. The issue become
controversial debate between Malays and non-Malays before Independence and triggered strained feeling among two ethnic groups. However the issue finally resolved by negotiation and compromise among them. This article show the issue of citizenship has led Malays fear of losing their right after Independence. However, intensive negotiations among the leaders of three ethnic groups had been able to solve this issue successfully. The non-Malays have finally received the citizenship right they fought for so long. Their struggle for citizenship right is essential for legalization of political right to ensure protection and survival their future in this country