After the handing over of Sarawak to the British Colonial Government, a new Constitution was drafted in 1956. The membership of Council Negeri increased to 24 non official elected members while 14 members were based on appointments, four on nomination and three as permanent members. The first democratic general election held in Sarawak in 1959 was through the three-tier voting system of the local councils.
A total of 24 non official members were elected to become members of the Council Negeri. The election brought about a political realization among the local people as proven by the emergence of a number of political parties. The Constituttion of the State of Sarawak underwent an important change on March 1963 following the announcement of the Concept of the Formation of Malaysia Raya in 1961. The change made by Council Negeri was to ensure Sarawak would have a fully democratic legislature and a ministerial system of government before Malaysia could be formed together.
Being the first local political party, Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP's) origins are tied to Sarawak's history of 20th century political awakening. After World War II, the last Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Vyner Brooke ceded Sarawak to Britain in 1946, thus making it an official British Crown Colony – to the dismay of many locals. This eventually gave rise to local anti-cession and anti-imperialist movements which further sparked local political awareness. The triggering event was Sarawak's new Constitution of 1959 which fell short of expectations for many who hoped to see significant progress to self-governance. The need for an organised political front to champion Sarawakian interests finally led to the formation of SUPP on 4 June 1959, with Ong Kee Hui as its founding president.
With a "Sarawak for Sarawakians" ideology – SUPP's movement gained widespread support, including winning big in the local elections of November 1959, alarming the then ruling British colonial government. When the proposal for Federation of Malaysia was first mooted in 1961, SUPP came out strongly to oppose the idea. Ong argued for Sarawak's independence before setting up a greater federation.
My father's personal foray as an SUPP party member
My father, Chang Ta Kang who had been pro democratic governance and English educated was dismayed by the sudden change in the political situation. He was a founding member of SUPP and a good friend of both Ong Kee Hui and Stephen Yong. As an elected representative of Sibu on the SUPP ticket he was undecided. He needed time to think about the formation of Malaysia and self governance for Sarawak. He believed that Sarawak was ready for self governance. But his ill health caused him to remain silent and he did not any articles for the Chinese newspapers, including the Ta Tung Newspaper, run by his own sister Pearl and her friends.
In December 1962, the British colonial government launched a crackdown on all dissenting groups in Sarawak. Many party members were detained, some even deported from Sarawak for alleged communist activities as, at the time, some members had links with Communist-affiliated. This further caused my father more heart aches. He was hospitalised for the first time for a weak heart condition. He had also started to burn a lot of his artwork, correspondence, notes, books and Chinese language magazines because he felt that the Speciall Branch might misconstrue everything he had. My father had studied in Shanghai and later graduated from Yenching university, Beijing. He was however more a scholar than an activist.
Following his hospitalisation he did not want to make any more political statements for Sibu and for SUPP. He was not surprised that SUPP still did well at the Sarawak elections of June 1963 . He was further disappointed that SUPP did not have a majority to form government, and it remained as the opposition.
1963 was a double disaster for the family as my grandfather passed away which caused my father to have his first heart attack. It was sad sight that he sat in a trishaw at the back of the coffin during the procession around the town. I had never seen my father weep so loudly. The pillar of our family was gone.
My grandfather had been disappointed by the political situation. When he saw the Sarawak Chinese Association gaining a strong hold in Sarawak politics he said at the beginning, "Politics in Sarawak is not meant for the poor." He then advised my father and my second uncle to leave SUPP. He also advised all who came to seek his opinion about standing for election. He would give his strong opinion.
Grandfather had said," You will never stop spending money for politics. Just look after your children well and that is good enough. When a family is stable everything will fall into place."
