Peninsular Malays Union

Peninsular Malays Union Persatuan Melayu Semenanjung
Abbreviation	PEMAS
Founder	Hashim Ghani
Founded	17 December 1949 [1]
Dissolved	23 January 1965 [2]
Headquarters	Kota Bharu, Malaysia [3]
Membership	25,000 (1951) [4] [5]
Ideology	Ketuanan Melayu Malay nationalism National conservatism Social conservatism
Political position	Right-wing
Colours	Red
Slogan	Malaya for the Malays
Politics of Malaysia Political parties Elections

Peninsular Malays Union (PMU,PMS or PEMAS, Malay : Persatuan Melayu Semenanjung) was a Right-wing party formed by lawyer Hashim Ghani, a former member of Singapore Progressive Party (PP) and Malayan Party. ^{[6] [7]} It formed as an alternative to poorer section of Malays as opposed to aristocratic United Malays National Organization. ^[8] The party were banned on the height of Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1965.

History

The party were formed to rival UMNO. ^{[9] [10]} It were formed on 17 September 1949 at Sultan Ismail Club. ^{[11] [12]} In response, UMNO bans its members from joining the party. ^[13] The party took more hard stance by advocating Malaya for the Malays ^{[14] [15] [16] [17]} and Malays self-rule. ^[18]

In early 1950's, the party leadership were tussled between Hashim Ghani and Ahmad Abdul Rahim. ^{[19] [20] [21]} It were later sorted out with Ahmad Abdul Rahim acted as president. ^[22]

The party were to contest 1959 Malayan general election with 80 candidates but failed to do so during nomination days. ^{[23] [24]}

The party intend to form a United Malay Front for 1964 Malaysian general election and compete for all seats. ^{[25] [26] [27]} However this never materialized due to the party lack fund to contest. ^[28]

At the height of Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, several party members were detained under Internal Security Act. ^{[29] [30]} On 26 May 1964, party president, Ahmad Abdul Rahim were also detained as suspected to be affiliated with Indonesia ^[31] and on anti-Malaysia campaign. ^{[32] [33]}

The party were later banned under the same reason.

List of party leaders

President

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Remarks
1	Hashim Ghani	17 December 1949	19 May 1952	[34] [35]
2	Ahmad Abdul Rahim	8 March 1953	23 January 1965	[36]

See also

• Politics of Malaysia
• List of political parties in Malaysia
• United Malays National Organisation

References

1. "New party gets 4 supporters". The Straits Times . 1949-12-18. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
2. "Peninsular Malays' Union banned". The Straits Times . 1965-01-23. p. 8.
3. "SPECIAL BRANCH HOLD SIX MEN". The Straits Times . 1963-12-14. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
4. "ONN TOLD —'DON'T INTERFERE'". The Straits Times . 1951-02-06. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
5. "'IMP WONT AFFECT US'—PMU". The Straits Times . 1951-09-19. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
6. "ALLIANCE vs. NEW PARTY IN MALACCA". The Straits Times . 1956-10-29. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
7. "THE PENINSULAR MALAYS ASSOCIATIOIN". The Straits Times . 1951-02-09. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
8. "New Malay Party For Federation". The Straits Times . 1949-10-27. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
9. "New Party To Start Drive For Members". Malaya Tribune. 1950-01-20. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
10. "NEW MALAY PARTY". Singapore Free Press . 1949-11-25. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
11. "RIVAL TO UMNO -THE PMU". The Straits Times . 1949-12-01. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
12. "MALAYS TO FORM A NEW PARTY". Malaya Tribune. 1949-12-02. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
13. "UMNO PUTS BAN ON PMA". The Straits Times . 1951-02-07. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
14. "WE MUST RULE, SAYS PMU CHIEF". The Straits Times . 1951-06-04. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
15. "Malaya belongs to Malays—PMU". The Straits Times . 1951-02-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
16. "PMU meeting to choose slogan". The Straits Times . 1951-04-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
17. "PMU Favours 'Tanah Melayu'". Singapore Tiger Standard . 1951-06-04. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
18. "They plan talks on Malay self-rule". The Straits Times . 1953-09-16. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
19. "CRISIS BREWING IN THE P.M.U." The Straits Times . 1953-04-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
20. "GOVT. TO SETTLE PMU DISPUTE". The Straits Times . 1953-06-11. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
21. "P.M.U. EXPELS PRESIDENT". The Straits Times . 1951-09-21. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
22. "Inche Ahmad willleadPMU". The Straits Times . 1953-09-01. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
23. "P.M.U. to name 80 for polls". The Straits Times . 1959-05-13. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
24. "PMU akan memileh 80 chalun". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1959-05-05. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
25. "RAHMAT ON 'UNITED MALAY FRONT'". The Straits Times . 1964-03-11. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
26. "PMS tanding dalam p-raya tahun 1964". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1962-05-06. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
27. "PEMAS BERTANDING 1964". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1963-08-10. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
28. "PEMAS TA' MASOK P-RAYA KERANA BAYARAN WANG PERTAROHAN BESAR". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1964-04-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
29. "SPECIAL BRANCH HOLD SIX MEN". The Straits Times . 1963-12-14. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
30. "Pemimpin PEMAS yg di-tangkap "ta' ada kerja"". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1963-12-20. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
31. "Rapati-lah Indonesia, seru Pemas". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1962-10-30. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
32. "PMU president detained". The Straits Times . 1964-05-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
33. "Prove it: PMU chief defies Tengku". The Straits Times . 1963-12-21. p. 24. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
34. "GHANI QUITS AS PMU HEAD". The Straits Times . 1952-05-19. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
35. "P.M.U. wants 'a dynamic' party head". The Straits Times . 1953-03-06. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
36. "PMU HEARS HASHIM GHANI". The Straits Times . 1953-03-09. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-20.