The Pan Malayan Students’ Federation was formed in 1953 by James Puthucheary. He advocated the rights of non-Malays in a multicultural Malaya. He asserted that Malays should not try to assimilate non-Malays, but accept them as integral to the nation. However, he also urged Chinese and Indian Malayans to cut their ties with lands of their origin and become part of the Malayan nation. Generally, students were united on issues such as Malayan nationalism, jobs for graduates and having a say in setting education policy.
