Arrests Frustrate Coup In Malaya : Plan Disclosed

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22707, 4 August 1948, Page 7

Arrests Frustrate Coup In Malaya : Plan Disclosed

(11.35 a.m.) SINGAPORE, Aug-. 3. Communist conspirators had intended to proclaim a Communist Republic of Malaya today, the Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, revealed in a broadcast.

By now they had expected a “revolutionary tyranny’’ to be firmly established on the Malay Peninsula and Singapore Island.

Malayan intelligence officers secured shortly after the outbreak of terrorism a reliable account of the Communist plan for seizing power in Malaya. Communist leaders decided in March to stage an armed insurrection introduced by widespread labour unrest in April and violent demonstrations on May Day.

areas would steadily be extended until combined into one Communist State of formidable size with authority covering a large part of the peninsula. The plotters planned to spread violence simultaneously to Singanore Island and expected that only a short time would be needed to subjugate the colony of Singapore. Mr. MacDonald said the enemy had not achieved the success they planned largely because of widespread arrests and Government action under the emergency regulations. The actions of the police, Army and Air Force in recent weeks had begun to improve the situation. Mr. MacDonald said, although it would still be folly to underestimate the strength and resources of the Communists.

Beginning terrorism early in June, they hoped to establish quickly legions which could be proclaimed ns independent Communist areas with provisional Communist administrations which were already prepared. These