1. CHAPTER 2.1 POLITICAL PROCESS

2. Colonial Era 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 1511 until 1957)
The Portuguese, Dutch, British, Japanese & even Siamese had colonized Malaya before.

3. Cont’d..
But only the British and Japanese succeeded in colonizing almost the whole country & left the impact on the people.

4. Colonists & The Features Of Dominations
Duration
Notes
Portuguese
(130 years)
Mainly in Malacca
Was opposed by the Malays of Malacca with the aid of Acheh
Did not leave behind many traces, except in the areas of language (borrowed word) and dance
Dutch
(183 years)
Did not leave many traces, focus on colonizing Indonesia
Was opposed by the Malays who frequently received help from the Bugis
British
Colonized the whole Peninsular Malaysia, two phases
Left behind significant influence on the way of life of the people (political, economic & social)
Was strongly opposed by the country’s population

5. Colonists & The Features Of Dominations (Cont’d)
Duration
Notes
Siamese
(88 years)
Was for a long time lord of the states in the north of the Malay Peninsular, but history dates it as having started in 1821
Stayed mainly in the northern states of the Malay Peninsular namely Perlis, Kedah & Kelantan
Traces of influence very evident in the states in the north, especially in the areas of religion (Buddhist) and art
Japanese
(3 ½ years)
Colonized the entire country
Greatly influenced the life of the people, especially in terms of relations between races
Was opposed by the whole country

6. Colonists & The Features Of Dominations (Cont’d)
The factors of colonizing Malaysia are closely tied to the vast natural resources and other sources of wealth after by the colonists.
Furthermore, Malay Archipelago was also a place for them to extend their political influence & Christian faith.

7. Portuguese Led by Alfonso de Albuquerque Took over Malacca in 1511
The main reason:
To control the maritime trade in the East
Spread Christianity

8. Evident from the Portuguese traces left behind
Exist of Eurasian community, who are Catholic and Portuguese customs
Introduction of Romanized writing, language and terminology such as palsu, almari, jendela, garpu and tuala in Malay and dance
The downfall of Malay Kingdom of Malacca & led to the start of Johor- Riau Malay Kingdom

11. Dutch
The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and took over Malacca in 1641 with the help from Johor
The centre of Dutch activity was not in Malacca, but Batavia ( Jakarta) in the island of Jawa.
They only interested in the tin ore in the Malay Peninsular
However the Dutch left after an agreement with the British in 1824

12. Ruins of a Dutch fort

13. The Dutch Square, with Christ Church (built in 1753) (left) and the Stadthuys (right).

14. Anglo- Dutch Treaty 1824
The treaty was signed on 17 March 1824 with the aim of ending all rivalry between the British and the Dutch in the East.
Before this, English & the Dutch has been hostile because of trade.
Besides that, Dutch were not happy with the British occupation of Singapore.
The hostility increases when some British people were killed in Ambon (a Dutch colony).

15. Anglo- Dutch Treaty 1824 (Cont’d)
The consequences of the treaty was clear; the Malay Archipelago was split into two spheres of Dutch & British influence.
The Dutch handed Malacca to the British in exchanged for Bencoolen (Bangkahulu).

16. British Colonization The Chronology of British Colonization
Year
Events
1786
Penang Island founded by Francis Light
1819
Singapore was founded by Stamford Raffles
1824
The Dutch handed over Malacca to the British as a result of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty
1826
Penang Island, Malacca & Singapore were combined into one administrative unit known as the Straits Settlements.
1841
James Brooke took over Sarawak
1874
British intervention in Perak, through the Pangkor Agreement
British intervention in Sungai Ujung
1878
The Brunei Sultan handed over Sabah to British

17. The Chronology of British Colonization (Cont’d)
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

18. British Colonization (Cont’d)
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.

19. British Colonization (Cont’d)
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.

20. Penang and Kedah
The English merchants set up the British East India Company in 1600 with the intention of improving trade in the region.
On 11 August 1786, Francis Light tries to take over Penang and after an agreement between Light and Sultan Abdullah; Penang Island came under the occupation of the British in order to protect Kedah from Siamese threat.

21. Cont’d…
On 1 May 1791 the Union Jack was officially raised in Penang for the first time.
Penang was later named Prince of Wales Island while Perai was renamed Province Wellesley.

22. Johor and Singapore
Modern Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles with a great deal of help from Major William Farquhar.
On 6th February 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles occupied Singapore, as it was seen as a suitable new base for the British in the Islands of the Malay Archipelago.

23. Cont’d…
This was achieved through the manipulation by the British of a local issue of misunderstanding between the Chief Military Officer Abdul Rahman (Singapore Administrator) and Sultan Abdul Rahman in Riau. Tengku Hussiens was appointed as the Sultan of Singapore

24. British Intervention in Malay States , Sabah & Sarawak

25. In Malay States
Before 1873, the British government did not have any policy of intervention in the affairs of the Malay states in Peninsular Malaya.
However even before, there has been several cases of indirect intervention in the matters of the Malay states.
It include the dispute between Raja Ali and Temenggung Ibrahim in Johor in the middle of 19 century, the Naning War of 1831 and the Anderson’s Agreement with Selangor & Perak in 1825

26. In Malay States (cont’d)
But, in September 1873, Lord Kimberly, Secretary of the colonial office started the policy of the intervention in the affairs of Malay States.

27. PERAK (1874)
The British intervened with the excuse of protecting the interests of British merchants.
Chaos broke out with the Larut War (the glamour for control of the tin mines) that involved the Chinese secret societies, Hai San and Ghee Hin, and the civil war (the struggle for the throne between Raja Abdullah and Raja Ismail).

28. Cont’d…
Chieftains such as Ngah Ibrahim (Larut Minister) and Raja Abdullah requested for British intervention.
Anxiety on the part of the British that other European power will intervene in the Malay States.
The Pangkor Treaty was signed on 20th January 1874
J.W.W Birch was appointed to be the first Resident.

29. SELANGOR (1874) Civil war involving Raja Mahadi and Raja Abdullah.
Tengku Kudin and Yap Ah Loy supported Raja Abdullah, the princes of the Selangor Sultan and Sayid Masyor supported Raja Mahadi.
British intention to interfere was not successful because the Malay chieftains did not want the British to interfere.

30. Cont’d..
In 1978, a British cargo boat was attacked by pirates; the British took this as an excuse to intervene.
In August 1874, Frank Swettenham was appointed official advisor to the Sultan and J.G Davidson as the Resident.

31. SUNGAI UJUNG (1874)
Struggle for power in Sungai Linggi between Dato’ Kelana Sayid Abdul Rahman and Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal.
Dato’ Kelana sought help from the English and was subsequently acknowledged as chief of Sungai Ujong.
However, the appointment of Dato’ Kelana and British presence were opposed by Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal.

32. Cont’d..
The British army, led by W.A Pickering, successfully defeated Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal.
Sungai Ujong accepted British Advisor, W.I.Tatham.

33. PAHANG (1880s)
Civil war broke out due to struggle between Wan Mutahir and Wan Ahmad for the post of 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)

34. Cont’d.. The British took that as an excuse to intervene
Sultan Ahmad accepted the British Resident J.P.Rodger

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

36. SARAWAK (1842)
Sarawak (1842)
James Brooke occupied Sarawak after fulfilling his promise to Raja Muda Hashim to quell the rebels
James Brooke was coronate King of Sarawak in 1842
The Sultan of Brunei agreed to sign the Agreement of 1842 to confirm James Brook as the governor of Sarawak for fear of British threat

37. FACTORS OF BRITISH INTERVENTION

38. 1. There was no unity among the inhabitants and this gave the British the chance and excuse to intervene by installing an advisor/Resident.
2. The presence of important economic resources such as tin ore and agricultural products (commercial agriculture) in these states.

39. 3. There was strong competition among the western powers for colonies to meet the economic needs of their country thus increasing the need for intervention.

40. Resident System
The British introduced the Resident System in Malaya through the Pangkor Engagement.
According to the Pangkor Engagement, each resident was to advise the sultan on all administrative matters except those pertaining to Malayan religion and custom, but in practice the resident ruled.

41. Resident System
The British introduced the Resident System in Malaya through the Pangkor Engagement.
According to the Pangkor Engagement, each resident was to advise the sultan on all administrative matters except those pertaining to Malayan religion and custom, but in practice the resident ruled.