Merdeka!: British Rule and the Struggle for Independence in Malaya, 1945-1957

Merdeka!: British Rule and the Struggle for Independence in Malaya, 1945-1957 describes the explosive situation in Malaya between the end of the Second World War until the termination of direct British rule in 1957. It discusses how the leading contenders for power and influence manoeuvered for pre-eminence in the political arena. The author suggests that the political reforms of the 1950s and the British government’s support of and final transfer of power to the non-communist Alliance coalition were due to the inability of the British to suppress the communist revolt otherwise.