The census of 1931 served as an alarm signal for the Malay national consciousness.
( ( ( The census ) ( of 1931 ) ) ( ( ( served ( as ( an ( alarm signal ) ) ) ) ( for ( the ( Malay ( national consciousness ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN census)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD 1931)))) (VP (VBD served) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT an) (NN alarm) (NN signal))) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT the) (NNP Malay) (JJ national) (NN consciousness)))) (. .)))
There wasn't any censuses in Malaysia prior to 1940.
( There ( ( ( ( was n't ) ( ( any censuses ) ( in Malaysia ) ) ) ( prior ( to 1940 ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBD was) (RB n't) (NP (NP (DT any) (NNS censuses)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP Malaysia)))) (ADVP (RB prior) (PP (TO to) (NP (CD 1940))))) (. .)))