THE DREAM OF MALAYAN UNITY: PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL AND THE MAPHILINDO
Abstract: In July
1962, a proposal
to form a
greater Malayan Confederation
was proposed by President DiosdadoMacapagal. This
proposal was to
include the Philippines,
the Federation of
Malaya and the British
territories of Singapore,
Brunei, Sarawak and
North Borneo. The proposal would have been a realization of a
Malaya Irredenta which was dreamed of by visionaries like WenceslaoVinzons who
once made an
oration advocating for
the unity of
Malayan people working toward
a common destiny.
The opportunity came
near as colonial
powers were liquidating their
possessions in post-World
War II Asia,
Already an earlier
association, the Association of
Southeast Asia was
formed in 1961
and this association
included non-Malay countries. The
Malayan confederation which
would be called
MAPHILINDO was to be different. On August 5,
President Macapagal issued his declaration calling for the creation of MAPHILINDO. The
formation of the
MAPHILINDO was met
with jubilation as
it was the realization of
a centuries-old vision
and the culmination
of the anti-colonial
struggle. The organization
however floundered because of significant problems among the three
countries. It led into a diplomatic
crisis that had the possibility of widespread armed conflict. MAPHILINDO floundered and
was later superseded
by the present
Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN). Despite
its stillbirth the
formation of the
MAPHILINDO demonstrated fraternal relations in dealing with problems
and issues among the three states of Malay origin.
Author: Augusto V. de Viana
Journal Code: jpsejarah&umumgg150006
