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  5. Malaysia's anger over the White Australia policy

Malaysia's anger over the White Australia policy

White Australia policy angers Malaya more than Diggers.

Details

Learning resource record

Creator:

The Argus and Department of Defence, Central Office

Date:

1955

Citation:

A5954, 2122/2

Keywords:

  • migration
  • White Australia policy
  • economy
  • India
  • Singapore
  • protest
  • Malaysia

Transcript

[Newspaper article]

[Header reads 'NEWS FROM OVERSEAS']

THE ARGUS, Friday, October 7, 1955

[Headline] White Australia policy angers Malaya more than Diggers

From John Veitch

SINGAPORE, Thursday: Any demonstrations that greet Australian troops in Penang this month will be largely an expression of Asia's hostility to the White Australia policy.

[Picture of a poster reading ‘THE MAN FROM THE ARGUS' and in larger text 'FIRST INTO MALAYA' with a photo of a man’s face wearing a uniform hat]

[text written across five columns]

[Bolded] One of Malaya's foremost political leaders, Dr. Toh Chin Chye, chairman of the People's Action Party, explained this in an exclusive interview today. [end bold]

Dr. Toh, 33 is a lecturer in physiology at the University of Malaya, and a spokesman for scores of thousands of P.A.P members throughout Malaya.

He said: "We are very sensitive about the White Australia policy.

"Asians cannot believe it a purely economic measure to protect Australian living standards. To us it is a color [sic] law, nothing else.

"In our eyes Australia does not regard Asians as equals, and that is what hurts.

"Australia must not forget Asia is awake now.

"Is it fair that Australians can come freely into Malaya and take permanent jobs in the public service when an Asian cannot, in almost every case, even get an extension of his visitor's permit to Australia? That is if he ever gets a visitor’s permit.

"To us it seems the White Australia policy is loaded all the way against Asians.

"How can Australia faithfully say it is an economic measure when, to strengthen your economy, you have imported a million white migrants in the past 10 years and not one Asian?

"Australia is breeding a tremendous amount of ill-feeling by continuing this harsh policy.

"Many Asians believe Australia should seriously consider relaxing the policy slightly to allow a small yearly quota of Asian migrants, hand-picked if necessary, to settle permanently in the country.

"America does it, and has always held the respect of Asiatics.

"If Australia allowed some of us in it would be an open indication to Asia's masses that Australia regards them as human and equals.

"We are not asking you to open your gates and let us stream in.

"It is not a question pf Australia's agreeing to become a land mass which solves Asia's population problems.

"All the Asian wants is the knowledge that Australia recognises him as an equal."

Dr. Toh said he did not know if there would be riots at the Australians' arrival.

He added: “The people of Malaya regard all foreign troops as a threat to her independence.

"We don't want to become a tool in any war between great powers.

"India has remained neutral all along, and we want to be the same"

[Italicised, bold] Your man won't go astray, girls – page 4.

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Discover records about Australia’s relationships in Asia and the Pacific region.

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