The formation of the Malayan Union with Melaka, Penang and the other states of Malaya aroused a new political consciousness among the Malays that was never seen previously. This led to the inception of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) by Dato' Onn Bin Jaafar of Johor in 1946. Later, the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) led by Tun Tan Cheng Lock and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) headed by Tun Sambanthan joined the new political movement. Adopting the slogan 'Merdeka' (Malay word for 'Independence'), these 3 parties forged an alliance under the leadership of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, a British educated prince from Kedah.