Dato Onn’s diverse background and experiences, including his education in England, his time in exile, and his role as a journalist, likely broadened his worldview and understanding of a multi-racial society’s complexities. His proposal to transform UMNO into a multi-racial party might have been driven by a vision of a more inclusive and united Malaya, recognizing the need for all races to work together for the country’s independence and future prosperity.
In a letter to the Malay Mail on 30/5/1949, he explained,
“It is absolutely important for the Malays to obtain closer relations with other people in this country. It is time for us to take the new wider than the kampung view. Let it not be said that Malays are narrow-minded and suspicious. We in Malaya today are witnessing an epoch of transitions and changes. If we (the Malays) do not take heed of the changes around us, we shall be the loser.” – Pg 28