During this period, some Straits Chinese began taking interest in local politics, especially in Penang, where there was an active Chinese secessionist movement. Identifying more with the British than the Malays, they were especially angered by references to them as "pendatang asing" (foreigners). Avoiding both UMNO and the MCA, they believed that while UMNO and Malay extremists were intent on extending Malay privileges and restricting Chinese rights, the MCA was too "selfish", and could not be relied on. Uncomfortable about the merger of the Straits Settlements with Malaya, they did not feel a sense of belonging in a "Malaya for the Malays" where they were not considered "bumiputra" ("sons of the soil"). One Straits Chinese leader indignantly declared, "I can claim to be more "anak Pulau Pinang" son of Penang than 99 per cent of the Malays living here today." With the government's stout rejection of secession, the movement eventually petered out.