The Pahang Indian Association

Empowering Malaysian Indians in Pahang

Many of the Indian associations existed only on paper by the 1930s, and many had little influence on the community. They were not successful in bringing about major awareness and consciousness in the Indian population. Many such associations deteriorated soon after birth and died eventually. Only a handful have survived to the present day, and PIA is one of them.

The Pahang Indian Association was founded on 20 August 1939; the initial meeting was conducted on 10 August 1939, at Kuala Lipis. Delegates from Bentong, Raub, and other districts participated. Dr. J. Samuel presided over the meeting, and the Chairman emphasised the need of Indians in Pahang working together to form the association as soon as possible. Messrs Warrier, Hamid, Osman Khan, Gurubachan Singh, Verrasamy, and J. Chelliah Naidu also spoke at this meeting. On 20 August 1939, Indians gathered at the Raub Tamil School to officially form the Pahang Indian Association. Mr. G. Osman Khan, Veterinary Inspector from Raub, presided over the meeting. The Association's office bearers were elected as follows:

President: Dr. J. Samuel (Bentong)

Vice President: Dr. M.K. Menon (Kuala Lipis)

Vice President: Mr. Sockalingam Chettiar (Kuantan)

Vice President: Mr. V.A. Abdul Hameed (Raub)

Honorable Secretary: Mr. Santa Singh (Raub)

Assistant Secretary: Mr. K.K. Rengan (Raub)

Treasurer: Mr. P.Periakaruppan Chettiar (Raub)

The committee members comprised the following:

1. Mr. J.S. Saini (Raub)

2. Mr. Osman Khan (Raub)

3. Mr. V. Supiah Thevar (Raub)

4. Mr. A’reet Singh (Bentong)

5. Mr. P.L.S.K.R. Sathiah Pillai (Kuala Lipis)

6. Dr. Parasura Iyer (Kuala Lipis)

7. Mr. Kuttian Kutty (Temerloh)

8. Dr. K. Natarajan (Kuantan)

Ravi Kumar

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The history of the Pahang Indian Association can only be understood in the light of the development in British Malaya in the 1920s. Many Indian associations were formed throughout Malaya and Singapore in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1923 alone, Kinta Indian Association in Ipoh, Lower Perak Indian Association in Telok Anson, Coastal Indian Association in Klang, Indian Association in Penang, Malacca Indian Association, Negeri Sembilan Association, and Singapore Indian Association were established. The first, well- organized association, however, can be traced back to the early 1900s, with the Indian Association of Taiping formed in 1906 and the Selangor Indian Association formed in 1909, both of which had strong support from Indian businesses, professionals, and colonial administrative employees. All of these organisations were comprised of successful businessmen and professionals such as attorneys, physicians, surveyors, schoolmasters, government officers, clerks, and planters. It should be emphasised that members came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including Malayalies, Telegus, Indian Ceylonese, Sikhs, Chettiars, Christians, and Muslims.

In 1927, an attempt was made to organise a conference of Indians in Malaya to provide a venue for the Indian community to gather and discuss issues affecting them. The first such conference was held on 21 December 1927 in Kuala Lumpur, presided over by S. N. Veerasamy, the first Indian attorney to sit at the Bar. Members came from Penang, Taiping, Telok Anson, Ipoh, Klang, Seremban, and Singapore. They discussed community issues and attempted to persuade the British government to admit an Indian representation on the Federal Council, but to no avail. In any event, the pressure on the colonial authority was insufficient because most Indian associations were still apolitical at the time. Their activities were restricted to creating a social nucleus for the community in each region. They placed a high value on offering recreational opportunities for their members. On festive occasions, social events were planned.

HISTORICAL GROWTH TO ITS CURRENT STATE

It should be noted that the associations were firmly supportive of the British and maintained close connections with India. On these grounds, educated Indians founded Indian associations – such as the PIA– in towns and districts. It was not until 1936, when the Central Indian Association of Malaya (CIAM) was founded, that a concerted political movement among Indians in the country emerged. CIAM concentrated its efforts on labourers in order to develop strong trade-union organisations in estates and public service enterprises.