Introduction to Malaysia

MALAYSIAN HISTORY

Outline
Malay Sultanate of Malacca
Colonisation Period
Independence

Map of Malaysia

Malay Sultanate of Malacca

The Straits of Malacca (Melaka)

The Port of Malacca (Melaka)
The Sultanate of Malacca (Melaka)
The Literature of Malacca (Melaka)

Malay Sultanate of Malacca

The Straits of Malacca (Melaka)
important trade route between West and East
Asia - across Indian Ocean and South China
Sea
important Asian maritime trading networks
trading between the Malay world and other
regions include: ivory, tortoiseshell, aromatic
woods, rattans, tin, tea, coffee, gold, silver,
spices and silk.

Malay Sultanate of Malacca

The Port of Malacca (Melaka)
most strategic for merchants (esp. the Arabs)
who came to Southeast Asia.
the principal group which initiated trade on the
route was the Persian merchants, followed by
the Chinese and Asian merchants
the Malay archipelago came to the attention
of the outside world because of the great
natural wealth of its jungles and oceans.

Malay Sultanate of Malacca

The Sultanate of Malacca (Melaka)
a Malay kingdom established in 1402 by
Parameswara, a prince from Palembang.
folk tale: Parameswara, went out hunting. As
he was resting under a tree, the mousedeer
kicked his dog into the river. Attributing to this
brave behavior, Parameswara decided to
settle down and call the place Malacca after
the tree he was resting under.

Malay Sultanate of Malacca

The Sultanate of Malacca (Melaka)
with the conquest of the Portuguese in
Malacca in 1511, the Dutch East India
Company (VOC) gained control over the
Straits of Malacca, the important trade
route between West and East Asia

Malay Sultanate of Malacca

The Literature of Malacca (Melaka)
History of the Malays (Sejarah Melayu) with
original title Genealogies of the Sultans.
generally regarded as a literary masterpiece
and the foremost example of classical Malay
prose style.
many of the stories became part of the Malay
culture for generations (social contract
between the ruler and the people).

Colonisation Period
1. Portuguese Colonization
2. Dutch Colonization
3. British Colonization
4. Japanese Occupation
1945)

(1511 1641)
(1641 1824)
(1824 1941,
1945-1957)
(1942

THE GENERAL FACTORS THAT LED TO

THE COLONIZATION
1. Economic

interest
All occupation that took place was due to economic
factor because Malaya was known for its richness in
raw/natural resources, spices & etc.

2. Competition among the European powers

European powers compete with each other in
acquiring areas to be their colony for the purpose of
exploitation of wealth from occupied countries to
help their countries economy.
This act was spread widely in the 16th & 17th
centuries and also in the early 20th century

THE GENERAL FACTORS THAT LED TO

THE COLONIZATION
3. Domestic circumstances / problems
Weak local rulers led to chaos and family rivalries
that led to instability and disorder
4. To spread Christianity
Mostly referred to the Portuguese occupation
because it was one of their main motive in
conquering Malacca at that time.
Most of their dealings with the local and also Muslim
traders were related to missionary process

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
The first European power to land in
Malaya under the leadership of Alfonso de
Albuquerque.
Received a lot of resistance from the local
community

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
Impact:

1. Political
2. Economy
3. Social
4. Historical Buildings

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
1. Political impact:
i. System of Administration

Introduced their own system of

administration which ended the absolute
power of the ruler

New head was introduced South Governor

ii. The Emergence of the Malay JohoreRiau
Kingdom

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
2. Economy impact:
i. Economy of Malacca
ii. High tax was introduced
iii. No more freedom in trading
ships were forced to trade in Melaka - special
pass was introduced
iv. Many ships divert their attention to other
ports such as Aceh & Johore

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
3. Social impact:
i. Spread of Christianity (Roman
Catholic)
Through mix / inter marriagesForce conversion
ii. Introduction of Roman Alphabet

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
3. Social impact:
Emergence of Portuguese or Eurasian
community

Portuguese Square
iv. Influence of Portuguese words in Malay
words

palsu(fake), garpu(fork), tuala(towel),

jendela(window), almari(cupboard) etc.
v.
Rise of Johore Kingdom
iii.

Portuguese Colonization
(1511 1641)
Historical Buildings impact:
ii. St. Paul Church

i. A Famosa

iii. Replica of
v

Portuguese ship

Dutch Colonization
(1641 1824)
1. Political impact:
i.

System of Administration
Its authority only limited to Melaka, because main
attention was in Indonesia, thus main
administration located in Batavia (Jakarta).
Confronted local resistance
Headed by a Governor

ii. Introduced western law into the local legal system

iii. Freedom of Religion

Dutch Colonization
(1641 1824)
2. Economy impact:
i.

High tax was introduced

ii. Forced traders from the west to stop for trade in

Jakarta
iii. Special pass was needed before trade in Melaka
iv. Melaka lost its importance as a major spice trade
centre because the Dutch concentrate on Jakarta and
many traders switch their attention to other ports

Dutch Colonization
(1641 1824)
3. Social impact:
i. Emergence of Dutch or Eurasian
community
Through mix / inter marriages
ii. Forefathers were the Dutch
administrators and traders who were
based in Melaka

Dutch Colonization
(1641 1824)
4. Historical Buildings impact:

ii. The Stadhuys

i. Christ Church

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
British colonization in Malaysia is divided into two parts:
1. From 1824 1941
2. From 1945 1957

The expansion of British influence in Malaya, Sabah and

Sarawak were made through:
1. The East India Company in Penang (1786)
2. Stamford Raffles in Singapore (1819)
3. James Brooke in Sarawak (1841/2)
4. The Chartered Company of North Borneo in Sabah
(1880/1)

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
1. Political impact:
i.

System of Administration
Malaysia is divided into 5 political units
a. The Straits Settlement: Penang, Spore, Malacca
b. The Federated Malay State Perak, Selangor,
Negeri Sembilan & Pahang
c. The Unfederated Malay States Perlis, Kedah,
Kelantan,Terengganu & Johor
d. Sabah Chartered Company of North Borneo
e. Sarawak Brookes family

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
1. Political impact:
ii. Introduction of Resident System
iii. Introduction of Westminster system of
government
e.g Parliamentary democracy

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
1. Economy impact:
i.

System of transportation

Before British intervention, river played an

important role

Networks of roads, railway were built to

transport goods. E.g. tin and rubber to the port
ii. Post, Telephone and Telegraph
iii. Urbanisation / New cities

The development of new cities were due to trade

and mining activities and also the efficient
system of telecommunication

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
2. Economy impact:
iv. Modern

Agriculture
British introduced rubber and palm oil
around 1900-1920 as a commercial
products - to stop from depending only on
rice,sugarcane, pepper and coffee which
are very important goods in the early 19th
century
New technology and machine were
introduced to upgrade the production

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
3. Social impact:
i. Education

Introduced vernacular system of education

Vernacular schools based on different

medium of instruction:

a) Malay School;

b) Chinese School;

c) Tamil School;

d) English School

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
3. Social impact:
ii.

Multi racial society

The main race in Malaysia before the British

colonization was the Malays

Opening of tin minings, sugar cane and rubber

plantations by the British contributed to the influx
of immigrants in Malaysia since the late l8th
century

Under the policy of divide and rule the British

divided and separated these three races
according to geographical and economic
aspects, which in accordance to their interest

British Colonization
(1824 1941, 1945-1957)
4. Historical Buildings impact:

i. KTM Berhad

ii.

Sultan Abdul Samad

Building

iii. Royal Club Selangor

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
Left deep impact in the life of the
people especially in politics, social &
economics
They managed to occupy the whole
Malaya including Singapore, Sabah
and Sarawak in 70 days (10 weeks)

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
1. Political impact:
i. System of Administration
Military government was introduced.
Military concept and national services
were absorbed e.g. Tekkikan (Intelligent
Agent); Kempetei (Secret Police);
Teko (AntiCriminal police)

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
1. Political impact:
ii. Malaysia political units were changed:
The Straits Settlements and states under
the Federated Malay States and Johore
were put under the Japanese Military
Administration (New Malai)
The northern states, Kedah, Perlis,
Kelantan and Terengganu, were given to
Siam as a benefaction

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
1. Political impact:
iii. The Emergence of Malayan People Anti Japanese
Action (MPAJA)
The main resistance movement through out
Japanese occupation.
Led to the rise of Communist influence
iv. The Emergence of Malay Nationalism
Due to political awareness Asia For Asians
Believe in self-government Lost trust to British

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
2. Economy impact:
i. Malaysian economy collapsed

The British before left Malaysia destroyed

basic infrastructure and property
ii. Tin mines and rubber plantation could not
continue

All machines were destroyed, no time to

repair or buy new because of war
iii. Standard of living

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
2. Economy impact:
iv.

High Inflation

v. Trades with outside world were stopped

Most of western countries especially US and

Britain stopped doing trade with Malaysia due to
Japan attacked and involvement in World War II
vi. Black market flourished

Especially on basic products e.g. rice, sugar,

clothes and paper and within few months spread
in all areas and aspects of life

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
3. Social impact:
i.

Treatment towards the three main ethnic groups

The Indians forced labour for Death Railway

(Thailand Myanmar)

Cruel towards Chinese people to the extent they

seek refuge to edge of the jungles

Quite lenient to the Malays because they are the

source of support for Japanese ideas and policy

ii. Problem of squatters

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
3. Social impact:
iii. Health declined

Health services were poor, many hospitals were

damaged

Diseases spread such as Malaria and people

suffered from malnutrition, caused by shortage
of food

Japanese Occupation
(1942 1945)
3. Social impact:
iv. Education

Japanization or Nipponization of the

people, to wipe out western cultural
influence
Introduced Japanese language (Nippon
go) as lingua franca but did not last
It encourages the concept of hardworking

Independence

Independence
The struggle for independence in the
country can be divided into two phases:
1. the struggle with bloodshed (before 20th
century)
2. struggle through negotiation (20th century
onwards)

Independence
1. the struggle with bloodshed (before 20th
century)
The struggle began in 1511 against the
Portuguese, followed by the Dutch
and the British

Independence
2. struggle through negotiation (20th
century onwards)
The struggle involved organizations and
mass media.
External influence + education received
by the people contributed to the
consciousness of the people to fight for
independence using mind and words

Independence
Proposal
Move towards Independence
Final steps independence

Independence
Proposal

1.Malayan Union (1946)

2.Federation of Malaya
(1948)

Independence
1. Objectives of Malayan Union (1946)
i. to ensure economic interests of the
British were protected
ii. to cut down administrative cost
iii. to prepare the people for self
government, so as to standardize
administration under one ruling system

Independence
1. Malayan Union (1946)
Features:
Made up of 9 Malay states, Penang and
Malacca
Headed by a British Governor in KL,
assisted by an Executive Council and
Legislative Council
The Malay rulers sovereignty was wiped
out but only remain in issues pertaining to
Islam and as a head of the Malay Council
of Advisors

Independence
1. Malayan Union (1946)
Features:
The state council was retained to deal with local
government matters but was subjected to the
control of the central government.
Singapore was excluded in MU, remained British
Crown Colony.
Citizenship was based on the principle of Jus Soli
Equal rights for all citizens regardless of race and
origin

Independence
2. Federation of Malaya (1948)
to replace Malayan Union
formed on 1 February 1948
opposition from certain groups

Independence
2. Federation of Malaya (1948)
Features:
The Federation of Malaya, with British High
Commissioner as head, comprised of 9
Malay states, together with Penang and
Malacca.
The Legislative Council and the Federal
Executive Council assisted the High
Commissioner in the administrative.
The Malay rulers were returned their rights
over their own states.

Independence
2. Federation of Malaya (1948)
Features:
The state government had the right and
responsibility over matters relating to local
government administration, land matters, health,
education and agriculture.
The administration of the states of Malacca and
Penang came under a Resident Commissioner.
The condition for citizenship became more strict.
The special rights of the Malays were recognized

Independence
Move towards Independence
1. Problem of Unity
2. Member system
3. Growth of Political parties

Independence
Move towards Independence
1. Problem of Unity
British introduced various mechanisms to
solve the problem of unity among the
three major ethnic groups in Malaya
E.g. the introduction of new educational
system and the Inter-Ethnic Relation
Committee

Independence
Move towards Independence
2. Member system
to appoint the local representatives to
hold positions in the Federal Government
training platform in administrative matters
create the spirit of cooperation among the
races through joint administration

Independence
Move towards Independence
3. Growth of political parties

Alliance
- UMNO + MCA + MIC
Radical/Socialist
- MCP (Parti Komunis Malaya); AWAS (Angkatan
Wanita Sedar); API (Angkatan Pemuda Insaf);
PKMM (Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya);
PETA (Ikatan Pemuda Tanah Melayu)

Independence
Move towards Independence
3. Growth of political parties

Islam
Hisbul Muslimin; PAS (Parti Islam SeMalaya)
Non-communal
IMP (Parti Malaya Merdeka); Parti Negara

Independence
Final steps independence
1.
2.
3.
4.

General election (1955)

Negotiation for independence
Constitution of the Federation of Malaya
Proclamation of Independence

Independence
1. General election (1955)
landslide victory to Alliance Party
they won 51 out of 52 seats

Independence
2. Negotiation for independence
The team
4 representative of Malay rulers: Datuk Panglima
Gantang, Dato Ahmad Kamil, Abdul Aziz Majid and
Dato Mohd Seth;
representatives of Alliance: Tunku Abdul Rahman,
Dr.Ismail Abdul Rahman, Dato Abdul Razak Hussein
and Col.H.S.Lee
British representative in Malaya
Suruhanjaya Reid (Reid Commission)
to draft the new Constitution

The team who went to London to negotiate

for independence.

Reid Commission

62

Independence
3. Constitution of the Federation of Malaya
Proclamation of Independence

a) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, head

of Malaya while the rulers are heads
of their respective states.
b) The Malays are recognized as the
son of soil and their special rights are
guaranteed in the Constitution.

Independence
3. Constitution of the Federation of Malaya
c) The Malay language is to become the
national language, English can still be used
in the Legislative Council for a period of 10
years after independence.
d) A person born in Malaya on or after
Independence is automatically a Malayan
citizen.
e) Islam is made the official religion of the
Federation of Malaya, but freedom of
worship is guaranteed for non-Muslims

Independence
4. Proclamation of Independence
31st of August 1957 (after midnight of
30th August 1957) at the Selangor
Club green (Merdeka Square).
The Union Jack flag was brought down
and was replaced with the flag of
Independent Malaya, now known as
Jalur Gemilang.

Independence
4. Proclamation of Independence
The ceremony for the declaration of
independence and official signing of the
declaration took place in Merdeka Stadium.
The same day the Federations first Cabinet
was announced with Tunku Abdul Rahman
was appointed as the first Prime Minister.
The first YDPA Yang di Pertuan Besar
Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Abdul Rahman

The First Cabinet Members of Federation of Malaya (1957)

67

Independence of Malaya
- 31 August 1957
Thank You.