The British Colonization in Malaya in 1874 - 1957 Malaysia was once a colonized land. It also classified as one of the Commonwealth countries-that is a former British colony. Malaysia was subjugated by other powers for approximately 446 years from year 1511 until 1957. Portuguese, Dutch, British, Japanese & even Siamese colonized Malaya. But only the British and Japanese succeeded in colonizing almost the whole country & left the impact on the people.

The Chronology of British Colonization Year Events 1888 British intervention in Pahang 1896 Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan & Pahang were unite into one administrative unit known as the Federated Malay States 1909 Under the Bangkok Agreement, Siam handed over Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan & Terengganu to the British ( these are Unfederated Malay States0 1914 Johor accepted a British advisor 1945 The British Military Administration (BMA) was establish 1946 The Malayan Union established in Peninsular Malay 1948 The Federation of Malaya was established to replace the Malayan Union 1957 The Malaya achieve independence

How the British came to Malaya Before 19th century, after putting a lot interest in economy, British started to have interest in territorial control. They were looking towards Southeast Asia including Pulau Penang (Malaya).

British In Malaya After the Treaty, British transfer the power of the Straits Settlements. It consist of Singapore, Malacca & Penang. These states were united in 1826 & Penang was the first capital state with a Governor as head. 1832, the head was transferred to Singapore because of Singapore was more develop than Penang at that time.

British Colonization In Malaya On 1st April 1867, the administration of the straits Settlement was transferred from Calcutta India to the Colonial Office in London. This transfer of administration largely influenced the historical development of the country. The administration become more efficient, commercial agriculture , such as black pepper, gambier, nutmeg , clove & sugar cane.

The Reasons Why British Came to Malaya Effects from British industrial revolution. Needs for continuous supply for raw material. Malaya was a major tin producer. Feared intervention by other foreign power.

Rubber & tin-mining areas in Perak

British in Malaya Malay Peninsula was under British control They established communication system and developed raw materials British lived up the Malaya’s economy in raw materials.

Strait Settlements (Est. 1826) The Strait Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. The territories were controlled by the British East India Company The Consist 4 individual settlements of Malacca, Dinding, Penang and Singapore.

Treaty of Pangkor in 1874 The Pangkor Treaty was signed on 20th January 1874. J.W.W Birch was appointed to be the first Resident of Perak. Treaty signed between the British and the Sultan of Perak on the Island of Pangkor in Perak. Significant in the history of the Malay state as it legitimized British control of the Malay rules and paved the way for British imperialism in Malaya.

British involvement in Malaya began in the late 18th century The Social Impact of the British Colonization in Malaysia

The aftermath of the social to the society British involvement in Malaya began in the late 18th century and the evolution since then of what we would now recognize as Malaysia. British rule brought intense changes, transforming the various states socially and economically. Heavy immigration from China and India in order to supply labour for British rubber plantations and tin mines. From the main impacts: Entering into the affairs of other society. Differentiating between groups and individuals in racial, ethnic, and gender terms. Colonial rule reorganized local life. Family life and marriage, among many others. The developing of Social Services like, health, education, welfare and housing.

Growing of the population in town The other great contributory cause of the increase in population was immigration. There were small Chinese groups in most states but after 1820 a large Chinese immigration occurred in Sungai Ujong, Selangor and Perak associated with tin-mining. A smaller Indian population existed, with the development of the plantation agriculture mainly rubber and with service. There was a large scale immigration from India and Ceylon.

The Malay boys traditional clothes

Tin Mining in Malaya One of the oldest industries. The Chinese immigrants settled in Perak and started tin mines. Their leader was the famous Chung Ah Quee. Tin mining lands were divided between the two groups of Hai San and Ghee Hin. The huge proportions of mining in Malaya now are the tin mining concern and the growth of large-scale tin-mining, which was a very significant development since the middle of the nineteenth century.

The tin mining in the year of 1930 and 1955

The British impact towards Education Because of the differences between the multi-ethnics in Malaysia, it was difficult to have a unified educational system. The British have divided the educational system between the ethnics in Malaysia based on their language and culture.

Educational system Malay-medium English-medium Tamil-medium chinese medium That division was the reason of having four types of schools. Those schools were formed by the british during the colonization. Malay medium, English medium, Tamil medium and chinese medium schools. This educational system was one of the main reasons to perpetuate the multiple society.

The Peaceful and The Armed resistance movements: Colonization Resistance Unstable society

Resistant groups Guerilla groups Religious groups Nationalists Main oppositions:

Group had huge impact in social life: Malayan communist Party led by Chin Peng Loss of life Many people lost their life from both sides society was in unrest condition A state of emergency was declared for 12 years 1948-1960 . Choosing the armed resistance didn’t free Malaysia, it caused more harm than good

Malaysian independence Negotiations led by Tunku Abdul Rahman only solution was the peaceful resistance

The British influence on Malaysian economy Malaysia is generally regarded as one of the most successful non-western countries to have achieved a relatively smooth transition to modern economic growth over the last century. It was a big major supplier for the primary products to the Industrialized countries; Tin, Rubber, Palm oil, Timer, Oil, Liquid and Natural gas. 

Malaysia in a prior period of time had had a two stages of economical process: 1-The pre-modern economy : During this period of time, the local economy or the trading circulation was relaying on the old typical international trading methods, like “trading routes”.

2-The transition to a modern capitalist economy: When the 19th century came, some turning points where taking a place towards the Malaysian economic developments beside the transition to a modern advanced pattern; where between 1815 and 1914, grew on average at 4-5 percent a year compared to 1 percent in the preceding hundred years.

The period of British colonial rule can be categorized into five main historical phases : 1- 1786-1874,when the British “acquired” the ports of Penang, Singapore and Malacca for strategic and trade purposes. 2- 1874-1900, when four vital Malay states fell under British control.

3- 1900-1932, a period of great expansion of the rubber and tin industries, which led Malaya fully into the web of the world market economy. 4- 1932-1941, the depression period, during which the effects of trade dependence were fully felt.

(5)--1945-1957, from the close of the World War to independence, during which British capital consolidated and rationalized its control over the Malayan economy, and prepared itself for continued presence after Independence.

Political Impact of British Colonization

Political - Malaya Pre-colonial Malaya Sultans and Malay Chiefs ruled Traditional rule was based on RELIGION Sultan was seen as the protector and propagator of the Islamic faith Informal rule: the Malay Chiefs collected taxes for the Sultans and could pocket some amount of the taxes

Political - Malaya Indirect rule was applied to colonial Malaya British residents were attached to the Sultans -Supposed to advise the Sultans on matters excluding religion

Political - Malaya Malaya: Residential System Straits Settlements Federated Malay States Unfederated Malay States The British colonial influence was profound because it established institutions and policies on which the later Malayan ruling regime was based on. This is important to understand the earlier political development in Malaya (now known as Malaysia). The post-colonial Malaya inherited the colonial legacy in terms of a multi-ethnic society, the federal type of political system, the political parties and the government. All these are important factors that have shaped Malaya. The impact of colonial rule diminished the political power of the Malay rulers.

The Political Demography of Malaya: British rule reshaped the political geography of Malaya deeper. In 1874, the British signed the Pangkor Agreement with Perak, giving them power to advise state authorities. By the First World War (1914-1918), the British had created three separate entities: the Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang; the Federated Malay States (FMS) of Pahang, Selangor, Perakand Negeri Sembilan; and the Unfederated Malay States (UMS) of Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Johor. The Settlements were a Crown Colony, while the other states accepted British administrators but still retained their sovereignty.

THE BRITISH AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN MALAYA: Due to the marginal role played by the Malay rulers during the British administration resulted to two important political movements. First, the Kesatuan Melayu Malaya (KMM) also known as Young Malays Association started in 1937, this association represented the Malay interest and was more influenced by Indonesia. Second, the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) started in 1930which was mainly dominated by the Chinese and influenced by China. KMM was formed under the leadership of Ibrahim Yaacob.

Malaya’s Residential System Residents were supposed to “advise” the Sultans But they ended up making the decisions  political powers shifted from the Sultans and Malay chiefs to the Residents Sultans and Malay chiefs became salaried employees

Administrative Hierarchy 1896-1908 High Commissioner Resident-General = Durbar Heads of Federal Departments State Councils of States States Departments

CONCLUSION 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.