De Silva's Motive

The real object of Mr de Silva's exercise in illogical rhetoric is simply this: to provoke Malaysian students who who are anti-Government, be they 'Communist' or not to come out in the open and be identified. This has been achieved to a certain extent, no doubt. The urgency to suppress 'dis contented' and 'subversive elements' has been emphasized by the recent arrests of a number of professional people in the colony of Sarawak. They include lawyers and doctors and among them is a close friend of the 'Chief Minister' (BBC report. Sat, 22nd) This motive has been further made clear by a ploy used at the MSA elections on Saturday 22nd to provoke Malaysian students into saying whether they would support an armed revolution at home or not. An attempt was made to move a motion to that effect at the meeting. Fortunately, it was ignored.

If it had been put to the floor [the Government agents (respectfully) would have a field day taking down names] those who were for an armed revolution would have implicated themselves (be they Communist or not) and if they had remained silent, the effect would have been the same.

It will be a long struggle between the mover of that motion and I. I suggest he resigns himself to his fate when he gets back as by his actions he has made himself a marked man; otherwise he should reform his ideas as it is not too late.

Your running target- Red Malay.