CHAPTER 2

TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE AND

FORMATION OF MALAYSIA
 Colonial Era

• Reflects the attraction of the country & of the Malay

Archipelago to the foreign countries
• Subjugated by other powers for 446 years (1511 – 1957 )
• Portuguese • Japanese
• Dutch • and even Siamese
• British

• British & Japanese succeeded in colonizing and left the

impact on the people
• The Factors for colonizing Malaysia:
• vase natural resources & other sources of wealth
• to extend political influence & Christian faith

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 Table 1.3: Colonists and the Features of Domination
Colonist Duration Notes
Portuguese 1511 – 1641 • Mainly in Malacca
(130 years) • Was opposed by the Malays of Malacca with the aid of Acheh
• Did not leave behind many traces, except in the areas of language and dance
Dutch 1641 – 1824 • Mainly in Malacca
(183 years) • Did not leave many traces; focused on colonizing Indonesia
• Was opposed by the Malays who frequently received help from the Bugis
British 1824 – 1942 • Colonized the whole of Peninsula Malaysia; two phases
• Left behind significant influence on the way of the life of the people (P/E/S)
1945 – 1957 • Was strongly opposed by the country’s population
(130 years)
Siamese 1821 – 1909 • Was for a long time lord of the states in the north of the Malay Peninsula
(88 years) • Stayed mainly in the northern states of the Malay Peninsula namely, Perlis,
Kedah and Kelantan
• Traces of influence very evident in the states in the north, especially in the
areas of religion (Buddhist) and art
Japanese 1942 – 1945 • Colonized the entire country
(3½ years) • Greatly influenced the life of the people, especially in terms of relations
between the races
• Was opposed by the whole country
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 Portuguese (1511 – 1641)

• The main reason:

• to control the maritime trade in the East
• Spread Christianity
• Failure to expend power:
• Inconsistency between their:
» trading practices
» Religion
– Alfonso de Albuquerque using force to make the group of
merchants leave Malacca and they viewed the Portuguese as
enemy to other Islamic countries

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 Portuguese (1511 – 1641) Con’t

• Main influences evidences:

• Eurasian community
• romanized writing
• language
• terminology (palsu, almari, jandela, garpu & tuala in Malay)
• Led to start Johore-Riau Malay Kingdom

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 Dutch (1641 – 1824)

• Defeted Portuguese with assistance from Johore

• Dutch activities mostly from Batavia (Jakarta) in Jawa Island
• Only interested in tin ore in the Malay Peninsula
• Dutch left after agreement with British in 1824 (Malacca was
passed to British)

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 British (1824 – 1942)
• 1786: Penang was founded by by Francis Light
*(after an agreement between Francis Light & Sultan Abdullah - protect Kedah from Siamese threat)

• 1819: Singapore was founded by Stamford Raffles

*(achieved through the manipulation by the British of a local issues of misunderstanding between
Chief Military Officer Abdul Rahman (Singapore Administrator) & Sultan Abdul Rahman in Riau )

• The general tendency:

• Focus on opening of Singapore
• Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 March 17: Malay Archipelago divided
to two different geo-political area in 19 & 20 century
• The establishment & transfer of power of the Straits Settlements
• The growth of the tin mining industry
• Increase of Chinese population
• The intervention of the Malay States in 1874
• Progress in British administration
• Formation of the Federated Malay States in 1896
• Opening of rubber estate
See table 1.4: The Chronology Of British Colonization – pg. 10

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 British (1824 – 1942) Con’t

• Straits Settlements
• Consisted of Singapore, Malacca & Penang Island
• United in 1829
• Penang Island:1st capital state with Governor as
head
• Administration of Straits Settlements transferred
from Culcutta in India to London coursed:
» More efficient administration
» Commercial agriculture (black paper, gambier,
nutmeg, clove & sugar cane)
» Pirate activities were eradicated
» British began to pay attention to the Malay state

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 British (1824 – 1942) Con’t

• British Intervention in Malay States, Sabah & Sarawak

• There had been several cases of indirect intervention:
» Raja Ali & Temenggung Ibrahim in Johore
» Naning War of 1831
» Anderson’s agreement with Selangor & Perak in 1825
• In September 1873, Lord Kimberly-inaugurated intervention policy
• Before that British intervened only in Sarawak

* See Table 1.5: Summary of British Intervention in the Malay States,

Sabah & Sarawak

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 Table 1.5: Summary of British Intervention in the Malay States, Sabah & Sarawak

State Record of Events

Sarawak • James Brooke occupied Sarawak after fulfilling his promise to Raja Muda Hashim to
(1824) quell the rebels
• James Brooke was coronated King of Sarawak in 1824
• The Sultan of Brunei agreed to sign the Agreement of 1842 to confirm James Brooke
as the governor of Sarawak for fear to British threat
Perak • The British intervened with the excuse of protecting the intrest of British merchants
(1874) • Chaos broke out with the Larut War (the clamor for control of the tin mines) that
involved the Chines secret sicieties, Hai San & Ghee Hin, and the civil war (the
struggle for the throne between Raja Abdullah & Raja Ismail)
• Chieftains such as Ngah Ibrahim (Larut Minister) & Raja Abdullah requested for British
intervention
• Anxiety on the part of the British that other European powers will intervene in the
Malay States
•The Pangkor Treaty was signed on 20th January 1874
• J.W.W. Birch was appointed the first Resident
Selangor • Civil war involving Raja Mahadi & Raja Abdullah
(1874) • Tengku Kudin & Yap Ah Loy supported Raja Abdullah; the princes of the Selangor
Sultan and Sayid Masyor supported Raja Mahadi
• British intervention to interfere was not successful because the Malay chieftains did
not want the British to interfere
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 Table 1.5: Summary of British Intervention in the Malay States, Sabah & Sarawak
Con’t

State Record of Events

Selangor • In 1873, a British cargo boat was attacked by pirates; the British took this as an
(1874) excuse to intervene
Con’t • In August 1874, Frank Swettenham was appointed official advisor to the Sultan &
J.G. Davidson as the Resident
Sungai Ujung • Struggle for power in Sungai Linggi between Dato’ Kelana Said Abdul Rahman & Dato’
(1874) Bandar Kulup Tunggal
• Dato’ Kelana sought help from the English & was subsequently acknowledged as chief of
Sungai Ujong. However, the appointment of Dato’ Kelana & British presence were opposed
by Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal
• The British army, led by W.A. Pickering, successfully defeated Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal
• Sungai Ujong accepted British Advisor, W.I. Tatham
Pahang • Civil war broke out due to the struggle between Wan Mutahir & Wan Ahmad for the post of
(1880s) Chief Minister
• The British were worried over Sultan Ahmad’s suggestion to give trade concessions to
Western powers
• In February 1888, a British citizen (of Chinese descent) was murdered in Pekan (near the
sultan’s palace)
• The British took that as an excuse to intervene
• Sultan Ahmad accepted the British Resident J.P. Rodger
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 Table 1.5: Summary of British Intervention in the Malay States, Sabah & Sarawak
Con’t

State Record of Events

Sabah • Part of Sabah was under the Brunei Sultanate since the 16th century
(1946) • Was leased to Charles Lee Moses in 1865 & subsequently sold to Baron Von
Overbeck
•T he Sulu Sultanete agreed to give up their land in Sabah to Overback & Dent in 1878
• The North Borneo Chartered Company was established to administer Sabah
• On 15th July 1946, Sabah was declared a British colony

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 The Era of the Emergency

• Related to development of Communist Party of

Malaya (MCP)
• Crept into Malaya in 1920s with Kuomintang
Party from China.
• Primary objective:overthrow British & establish
Communist Republic of Malaya
• 1942 joint with British formed MPAJA to against
the Japanese
• After Japanese left they formed Malayan Races
Liberation Amy (MRLA) to against British again
& known as 3 Stars (3 races).

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 The Era of the Emergency Con’t

• No support for Communist Ideology

• Malays: -communism against Islamic teaching-
denied the existence of God
- dominated by Chinese – created suspicion
- give more focus on improving the economy
• Chinese: - several leaders establish Malayan Chinese
Association (MCA)
- to save-guard the interest of Chinese people
• English government took definite stapes to wipe out
communism and MCP activities

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 The Era of the Emergency Con’t

Declaration of Emergency & Emergency Laws

• June 16, 1948, by Sir Edward Gent (British High
Commissioner) – due to killing of 3 European estate
manager in Perak
• Perak & Johore
• June 17, 1948 – the whole of Malaya
• Give power to Police & Soldiers to arrest & detain
communist suspects without trial.
• Roadblocks & curfews, registration system was
introduced – citizens aged 12 years & above must own
an identification card.

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 The Era of the Emergency Con’t
British Plans
• The Briggs Plan
• By Sir Harold Briggs – relocate the Chinese squatter areas to new village –
400 villages (started June 1, 1950 in Johore)
• Military Measures
• By Sir Gerald Templer (military general) – used firm military force (English
soldiers, Gurkhas & Malays)
• Psychological Warfare
• By Sir Gerald Templer – easy citizenship for non-Malay, pardoning the large
number of MCP members who surrendered, rewarding people who provide
information on MCP giving out pamphlets, introduce “White & Black area”
• One of the success method in ending MCP activities
• The Baling Negotiation
• MCP decided to negotiate with government
• At Baling, Kedah on 28 & 29 Dec. 1955
• Tengku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall & Tan Cheng Lock represented
government
• Chin Peng, Chen Tien & Rashid Maidin represented the MCP
• MCP requested to be legally recognised
• Negotiations failed.
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 The Era of the Emergency Con’t
Impact of Emergency
• July 31, 1960, Tengku Abdul Rahman proclaimed the end of the emergency
• MCP failure:
• Offensive acts against Malayan Union
• Lack of support from Malayan people
• Lack of protection from Russia & China
• 12 years left many negative results
• 9,581 people killed (MCP, ordinary citizen, Security Force)
• 1,383 injured &
• 807 missing
• Properties destroyed
• Economy was crippled
• Social gap among Chinese in New Villages (with public facilities) &
Malays in traditional Malay villages – racial issue worse
• Positive results
• Taught people in the country to work together
• British took immediate action to grant independence
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 MALAYAN UNION 1946 - 1948
• Reason for the Malayan Union Plan
a. Towards a more efficient administration
b. Need for a strong, united country-uniformity
c. Preparation for self government
d. To protect British interest
• Introduced in April 1946

• Opposition to the Malayan Union – Malays

a. Fear of losing Malay rights and Privileges
b. Criticisms over Citizenship
c. Position of the Sultans threatened
d. British High-handedness
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 UMNO
• The birth of UMNO, 11 May 1946
• President – Dato Onn Bin Jaafar
• Aims - a) to make the British withdraw the
Malayan Union
• b) to prepare the Malays for their part in
self government

• The Malayan Union abolished 1948 ------ the

acceleration (catalyst)
• of Malay nationalism, birth ??????? Japanese
Occupation
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 FEDERATION of MALAYA 1948
• i.e. Special privileges
- non-Malays unhappy – citizenship requirements
• - Chinese Chamber of Commerce
• - AMCJA – Tan Cheng Lock
 Federation – states still retain some power
 Union centralized power

Effect of the Federation

a. Malay Peninsula under one government
b. Powers of Sultan and state councils were restored
c. Reaction of the Malays and non-Malays

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 DEVELOPMENT of POLITICAL
PARTIES
• MCP (PKM) 1930
- underground party-dominated by Chinese-influence of mainland China
- Members mostly discontented lower working class
- aim to establish Communist Republic of Malaya by overthrowing
government
- very successful during Japanese occupation – new look MPAJA-British
support-marriage of convenience
- when British returned – the cordial relationship started to strain as MCP
still keen to form Communist republic
- leadership under Chin Peng and Lai Teck
- British succesfully clamped down MCP’s activities

2. UMNO (11 May 1946)

- founded by Dato Onn who later left the party when his suggestion to open
UMNO to other races were turned down
- the rise of Tenku Abdul Rahman who went on to head the government
after independence

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 Parties unhappy with the
Federation
a. AMCJA – Tan Cheng Lock
b. PKMM – Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmi
c. AWAS – Shamsiah Fakeh
d. API – Ahmad Boestaman

• PUTERA (PKMM, AWAS & API) – AMCJA

• 1947 Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmi introduced
‘Perlembagaan Rakyat’,
• British found it too radical
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 3. MCA (27 Feb 1946)
- Tan Cheng Lock first president
- to unite Chinese against Communist, to
show loyalty and work alongside with the
government and to protect Chinese
economic and political rights

4. MIC ( 8 August 1946)

• - 1st President was John Thivy
• - DEVELOPMENT of POLITICAL PARTIES

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 FORMATION of MALAYSIA
• By 1961 the FM had been independent for 4 years.
• Malaya had a stable government and there was economic and
social
• progress.

• Singapore had obtained full internal self – government since 1959

• but still controlled by Britain.

• Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei – British Crown Colonial since 1946.

• 27 May 1961, Tengku Abdul Rahman proposed a merger of Malaya

+ Sabah + Sarawak + Singapore + Brunei = MALAYSIA
- there would be a central government for all these territories.
- each territories would retain some of its powers.

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 SINGAPORE’S DESIRE for
MERGER
- PAP came to power in 1959
- Lee Kuan Yew, as Prime Minister of Singapore.

• Reasons
- Economically, Singapore still dependent on Malaya.
- Singapore continued to face the threat of Communist

• THE MALAYAN GOVERNMENT WAS AGAINST MERGER

- the population in Singapore was largely Chinese.
- Communist activities would spread to Malaya from Singapore.

• REASONS for TAR PROPOSAL for THE FM

- increasing Communist influence in Singapore
- to balance the racial Composition.
- to encourage economic development.

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 PROPOSAL of THE MALAYSIA
PLAN
- Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak & Brunei if agreed to the Malaysia Plan
they would get their independence early.
- In July 1961, a Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee was set
up.
- To get their opinions.

• BRITAIN
- the British government knew that it had to give independence to
Singapore, Sabah & Sarawak sooner or later.
- It realized that the Malaysia Plan would give these territories political
stability, and prosperity.
- In 1962, the British government appointed a commission of inquiry.
- The Cobbold Commission.

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 THE BRUNEI REVOLT

• Two months before the Malaysia

Agreement was signed, Sultan of Brunei
• decided not to join Malaysia.
- taxation of Brunei’s oil revenue.
- The right to a senior place among the
Malay Rulers.

• 16.9.1963 – The Formation of Malaysia.

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 THE MALAYSIAN
CONSTITUTION
- The head of Malaysia – Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
- Malaysia ruled by Parliament
- Parliament which would be made up of 2 Houses.
- The Senate (Dewan Negara)
- The House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)
- Election – 5 years
- The head of the Malaysia government – Prime
Minister.
- The central government was to be at Kuala Lumpur

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