JAPANESE OCCUPATION

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

>> Indian Patronage

The Japanese encouraged the Indians to join the Indians National Army, organised by the Japanese to fight against the British in India and Burma.  This caused the budding political interest of the Malayan Indians to be drawn closer to the nationalist developments in India.  But a large number of Indian soldiers, mainly the Sikhs and the Gurkhas were loyal to the British and refused to join the INA.  They were hence imprisoned and tortured, often to death.

Hence the political effect of the Japanese Occupation was an enhancement of the nationalist feeling in Malaya.

(Source: lecture notes)