NAME : JAY GANESAN A/L MANAGARA

STUDENT ID : 041100087

EMAIL : Avatar_56@yahoo.com

COURSE NAME : Malaysian Studies

COURSE CODE : WLA 103/03

CLASS CODE : 4MAL3

TUTOR NAME : MAHTHAVI P .LETCHUMANAN

ASSIGNMENT : 4MAL3_041100087_TMA1

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 21TH FEB 2010

SUBMISSION DATE: 14TH FEB 2010

Name : JAY GANESAN
Student ID : 041100087

Question 1

The Malacca Sultanate was a powerful maritime and commercial empire that
shaped the political, social and cultural systems of the Malay Peninsula. Discuss the
rise and decline of the Malacca Sultanate.

Answer 1

The Sultanate of Malacca was one of the most developed countries in Malay
Archipelago in early 14th century which was formed by Parameswara in 1402 with
starts of Hindu Kingdom and later has converted to Islam thru marriage of the
princess of Pasai in 1409. The Malacca governance was ruled by Malay officers.
During this period, The Empire of Malacca was well known mainly as a centre for
maritime trade and also the spread of Islam, have a gigantic territory and with a good
relationship between powerful countries as China and India. The great exposures in
politic, social and cultural have bolstered the Golden Age of Sultanate of Malacca.

Sultanate of Malacca has its own styles in governing and well defined
government. The country is lead by Sultan who is an absolute ruler and was assisted
by 4 main officers. They were Bendahara, Laksamana, Temengung and Bendahari.
These officers played most important roles in well-organized administration of
Malacca. Bendahara is the highest ranked officer being an advisor for the Sultan.
Laksamana is responsible to maintain state security and also Sultan’s security with
army forces. While Temengung also known as Chief Police is responsible to control
the peace of publics and preventing crimes. To control finance and trade matter,
Bendahari was formed. The efficiencies of those officers in governing government
have exposed Malacca politically famous in the world.

At early of 1409, Parameswara has converted to Islam and continues his

desires in Islam promulgations. Malacca has expanded their power base to the
Peninsular Malaysia and a part of Sumatera thru marriage and helping other
governments. In the 9th century, most of Islamic traders visit almost every harbor in
trade route to China. In the 11th century, most of traders get married with indigenous
people and established a good and strong relationship. Indirectly the Islam was being
promulgated into the region widely. As a flourishing trade destination in east region,
Malacca then becomes the most popular visited place. Shortly we can say that Islam
was developed in Malacca through trade route. Malacca was the center of Islam in the
eastern sphere, where imams and ustazes came to discuss religion and the like. Most
of South East Asia at that time was Hindu. Sultan of Malacca played main role to
promulgate Islam as preparing accommodation for all Islamic spreader, most
welcoming Islamic peoples, encouraging Islam spreading, build the Islamic
institutions and also allowed all the Islamic activities being done in his castle.
Sultanate of Malacca also has introduced a Lingua Franca language in port and it has
urged all other trader from various countries able to communicate each other and
smoothing trading activities. Indirectly, Islam is spreader easily among the traders in
Malacca.

Trade relationship between China and Arab, which was carried out through
red sea had established before the emergence and spread of Islam in Arab. The
number of ships and extensive trade activities in Middle East is a conclusion of the
developments in trade relationship between these two countries. In the 8th century,
many Arabian traders can be found in China that is a well known as visited city for
traders. Sultanate of Malacca ties a good and strong relationship with China and Arab
thru marriages. In the 11th century, most of traders get married with indigenous people
and established a good and strong relationship. As a flourishing trade destination in
east region, Malacca then becomes the most popular visited place.

Malacca is geographically located port for all the traders. It is in between of

China and India. This strategic location and monsoon protected has made Malacca
being a stop by on the way for all the traders from China and India or other Europe
countries. The Sultanate succeeds on ‘entreport’ trade and became the most important
port in Southeast Asia during the 15th and the early 16th century. Furthermore,
Malacca has served as a gateway between the Spice Islands and high-paying Eurasian
markets. Malacca has defined a set of law that is called as “Undang-Undang Laut
Melaka” to protect and secure its traders. Malacca also introduced a currency system
that make trader easier on trading their goods and also do some exchanges of
currencies with other countries. They also introduced a lower trade tax system fro the
traders. Malacca has become one of the most trade centre after the developments in its
trade policies. Role of “Laksamana” and “Orang Laut” was enforced to control the
“Perairan Selat Melaka” and trader’s shipping activities. Later Malacca port has
become as main trader collection and distribution centre.

Golden Age of Malacca was not last forever. In the wake of the many
explorations made by the Portuguese in the quest to spread the Gospel and obtain
Asian spices, Malacca was recognized as the collecting point for the much sought-
after spices of the Moluccas and also a centre where Islam thrived. Hence, it became
a prime target of the Portuguese. If the latter succeeded in conquering Malacca, it
meant that they would be able to monopolize the trading of spices and simultaneously
halt the spread of Islam through the preaching of the Gospel. The discovery of the
Cape of Good Hope in South Africa by Bartholomew Diaz in 1488 has halt the
popularity of Malacca trade port and diverted most traders. Most traders preferred to
sail from east to west with easily. Other than that internal conflict and high trade tax
in Malacca was caused all trader moved to other ports.

Golden age of Malacca with its wealth and prestige very much depends on its
leadership, and one leader who especially shone through was Bendahara Tun Perak.
After his death however, there was no successor capable of running the state of
Malacca. Tun Perak’s descendant, Tun Putih was old, weak and barely able to carry
out his duties. Following Tun Putih’s death, Tun Mutahir, who was elected
Bendahara, was no better, being more concerned about his welfare than the welfare
of the state. The reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah as king is also another factor that
caused the fall of Malacca around (1488-1528). Sultan Mahmud paid no heed to the
administration of the government. He allowed his officers to act as they pleased and
this encouraged much bribery and corruption among them. When Sultan Mahmud
descended the throne to allow his successor Sultan Ahmad Shah to reign as king, the
administration of Malacca deteriorated, since Sultan Ahmad was young and lacked
experience. The weak ruling of the government had caused offense and bribing were
common and the high taxes forced a decline in Malacca’s trading activities and
forced many merchants to shift to Acheh, the other trading centre in the region.
Antagonism among races when Tun Mutahir favored is relatives and reserved
important administration positions in the government for them. Consequent
dissatisfaction and racial tension makes no unity among Malacca people and lead to
attack of Portuguese in 1511.

In conclusion, the competent and systematic administration, being an Islamic

promulgation centre, being a famous centre of trade with strategically geographic
location, expanding its power base to other states, having good relationship with
powerful countries of course contributing to the developments in The Sultanate of
Malacca. Besides from cheating, disloyalty, weak ruling and greed for power
contribute towards decline of Malacca.

Question 2
Beginning this year, 16th September will be a national public holiday. What is the
significance of this day?

a) Elaborate on the factors that led to this momentous event in 1963

Formations of the Malaysia were the inspiration after the independence in 31st
August 1957 by Tunku Abdul Rahman. Malaysia was inaugurated on 16th September
1963(comprising 11 states) Singapore which self governing since 1959 and two
territories from northern Borneo; Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei. There are several
reasons for Malaysia’s formation. But the most important from the Tunku’s viewpoint
was ethnic composition. The Tunku dropped his opposition to the proposed merger
with predominantly Chinese Singapore only after the British assured him that the
three Borneo territories of Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo could join Malaysia.
Ethnic balance and unity not emphasize by Singapore but was important to Malaysian
authorities .From it Tunku expecting a large federation encompassing Brunei,
Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore. Not just a union but to ensure preservation to ethnic
balance.
 The proposal was on the whole well received. Trade benefits would accrue
from the creation of a larger economic unit, and resources could be pooled. There
would also be political advantages. For Malaya amalgamation with Singapore with its
largely Chinese population would be offset by the largely indigenous populations of
the states in Borneo. For Singapore it means of ending colonial status, and for
Sarawak, Brunei, and North Borneo it would advance the date of independence. There
was also the advantage that the existing central government at Kuala Lumpur was
already federal in structure. Meanwhile, almost this 4 countries facing Communist
threat after years under siege by communist terrorist. Singapore need the merger
because communist creating problem for his ruling People Action Party. This means
someone needs to take responsibility for the island’s security. Singapore not
encouraged independence given by British because later on Singapore will be
identified as “Communist Singapore”. Task of fighting communist simply a great
challenge and cannot done by a country alone.
In conclusion these three parties, for their own reasons, found it beneficial to
negotiate and work out the terms for Malaysia’s formation.

b) Discuss the reasons for Brunei to opt out and Singapore to be expelled
from the Federation of Malaysia.

In Brunei, however, political power passed in the elections of September 1962

to the People's Party, which maintained that before the move towards Malaysia was
made there should be unification of the three Borneo territories under the Sultan of
Brunei as constitutional ruler. A revolt within the party tried to bring about this state
by force, but it was speedily repressed.

Nevertheless Brunei ultimately decided to remain outside the federation,

possibly because with its small population and large riches in the form of oil it was
unwilling to share its prosperity. Also, the Sultan of Brunei's status within the
proposed federation was called into question, and this matter carried considerable
political weight against joining. In Singapore Malaysian concept generally accept and
everybody agreed to the formation of new ruler and new government. Singapore’s
PAP (People Action Party) led by Lee Kuan Yew mostly supported MCA in
Malaysia. PAP intends to merge all Chinese in Malaysia under its leadership.
Internally, Singapore second to Malaysia in population more than three quarter
Chinese in composition. Since PAP intention were not welcomed by UMNO which
support MCA threatened to upset the communal balance; from which Malaya politics
and government had hitherto depended .PAP involved in Malayan politics and also
questioned the special privilege given to Malays which include in constitution. This
led to advocating for struggle off just society-Slogan Malaysia for Malaysian policy.
Malay leader felt pap action is threatening the political stability and unity of the
country .Consequently Tunku Abdul Rahman demanded that Singapore leave the
federation, which it did in August 1963.