The Impact of Colonialsim British rule in Malaysia

Impact of Colonialism British rule brought profound changes, transforming the states socially and economically. After some initial resistance in remote areas (especially in Borneo), British administration eventually achieved peace and security. The Malayan sultans retained their symbolic status at the apex of an aristocratic system, although they lost some political authority and independence.

Impact of Colonialsim The British believed that the Malay needed to be protected from economic and cultural change, and that traditional class divisions should be maintained. Hence most economic development was left the the Chinese and Indian immigrants, as long as it served long term colonial interests. The Malay educated elite enjoyed positions in the new civil service.

Impact of Colonialism Malay and Bornean villagers were forced to shift from subsistence farming to cash crops to pay colonial taxes. British policies promoted the growth of such crops as pepper, gambier (resin), tobacco, oil palm, and especially rubber, which along with tin became the colony’s major exports.

Impact of Colonialism The British devoted much effort to constructing a transportation infastructure. Railways and road networks connected the tin fields to the coast. Port facilities were improved. Tin production remained in the hands of the Chinese until the early 20thC when British technology saw British firms take over the industry by WWII.

Impact of Colonialsim The rubber tree was first introduced in 1870 from Brazil By the early 20thC thousands of acres of forest had been cleared for rubber. Malaya became the world’s largest exporter of rubber. Rubber and tin provided the bulk of colonial tax revenues.

Impact of Colonialsim The British also improved public health facilities. The British managed to reduce the incidence of some tropical diseases. Government Malay and Christian schools were established. The Chinese generally had to establish their own schools. This separate school system only helped to perpetuate the the pluralistic society.

Impact of Colonialism Between 1800 and 1941 several million Chinese entered Malaya, Sarawak and British North Borneo to work as labourers, miners, planters and merchants. South Indian Tamils were imported as the workforce in Malayan rubber estates. Malays accounted for 90% of Malaya’s population in 1800, but by 1911 the constituted only 60%. A pluralistic society was developed, with most Malayans in villages, Chinese in towns and Indians on plantations.

Impact of Colonialism The British used a divide and rule tactic to maintain control. The Chinese became part of a prosperous urban middle class that controlled retail trade. The ethnic groups generally lived in their own neighbourhoods, followed different occupations, practiced their own religions, spoke their own languages, operated their own schools and later formed their own political organisations