MALAYSIAN STUDIES

CHAPTER 1:
HISTORY & POLITICS

1.2
WESTERN COLONIZATION
WESTERN COLONIZATION
3 parties: Portugese, Dutch, British
Reason for colonization:
a) Natural resources (tin & timber)
b) Cheap labour
c) Trading – spices, wares, etc.
d) Land for plantation esp. for rubber trees.
e) Spreading Christianity
 WESTERN COLONIZATION
COLONIST DURATION NOTES
PORTUEGESE 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
(borrowed and dances)
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 (1824-1957) -Colonized the whole of peninsula Malaysia: Two
>130 YEARS Phases
-Left behind significant influence on the way of the
life of the people (political, economic and
social)
-Was strongly opposed by the country’s population

SIAMESE 1821-1909 -Was for a long time lord of the states in the north
(88 YEARS) of the Malay Peninsula
-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
(3 ½ YEARS) -Greatly influenced the life of the people, especially
in terms of relations between the races
-was opposed by the whole country
 PORTUGESE
Conquered Malacca in 1511.
The fall of Malacca was due to
a) Internal conflicts between rulers
b) Political conflicts
c) Corrupted nobles
d) Disloyal merchants
e) Weak administration
 PORTUGESE
Under the administrative of a captain.
1571 – title changed to Governor.
Introduced too Chief Judge (Justice) &
Captain General (Defence).
Still maintained the old admin. system.
a) Bendahara (Prime Minister)
b) Temenggung (Police Chief)
c) Syahbandar Port Officer)
d) Laksamana (Marine Chief)
 PORTUGESE

1511 – Arrival of Portuguese to Malacca

 PORTUGESE
Portugese became greedy, asked 6 –
10% value of goods from ships sailed
through Malacca.
Forced traders to sell trade cheaply &
sell back expensively.
Letter of Permission was required to
trade in Malacca.
 PORTUGESE
Johore & Acheh attacked Malacca,
traders avoid & fall to Dutch in 1641.
Portugese left their descendants, Fort
A-Famosa, Roman Catholic religion,
language & culture.
Finally left after 130 years in Malacca.
WEAPONS
DUTCH EMPIRE
(1641-1824)
 DUTCH
Successfully conquered Malacca with
the help from Johore (Sultan Abdul
Jalil).
Grateful with help from Johore.
Signed an agreement in 1639 with
Johore – allow free trade.
Dutch then tried to spread their
authority to other parts.
 DUTCH
Tried to monopolize tin trade from
Perak.
Perak signed agreement.
People of Perak unhappy.
1690 - Panglima Kutup Ali attacked
Dutch settlement in Pangkor Island.
Selangor also signed agreement.
Forced Sultan Ibrahim to sell tin.
 DUTCH
Broke relationship between Johore &
Dutch.
Dutch unhappy with monopoly from
Johore.
1782 – Dutch attacked Riau.
Sultan Ibrahim angry & attacked Dutch
with help of Rembau (Neg. Sembilan).
DUTCH
 DUTCH
Raja Haji (Yamtuan Muda Johor) helped
Sultan Ibrahim.
Attack failed & Raja Haji died in 1784.
Dutch & Selangor continued fighting till 1786.
Dutch also threatened Johore by agreement
(1784).
Forced Sultan Mahmud Shah III surrender
Riau & Johore must under Dutch although
Sultan is ruler.
 DUTCH
Sultan Mahmud became angrier when
Dutch sent a Resident to Riau.
Johore took offensive against Riau
settlement in 1878.
However, Dutch took over Riau again.
MALACCA UNDER
DUTCH RULED
DUTCH MILITARY
WEAPONS
DUTCH BATTLE SHIP
BRITISH EMPIRE
BRITISH EMPIRE
BRITISH EMPIRE
 BRITISH
Began from Penang with
Francis Light.
End of 18th century – British
build influence.
British transformed Penang into
army camp & port.
Penang was under Kedah &
Kedah under threat of Siam &
Burma.
 BRITISH
Sultan Muhammad Jiwa offered the British
Penang if British was willing to help Kedah in
handling the Siamese threat.
Also facing threat from Bugis.
Sultan set conditions:
a) British patrol coast in Kedah
b) Enemies of Sultan are enemies of British
c) Costs of war borne by company
d) Ships free to trade in Kedah & Penang
e) 30,000 Spanish Peso must be paid to Sultan to
make up losses of trade
 BRITISH
1785 - Francis Light signed agreement
although no permission has been
given.
British superior refused the agreement
& Raja Abdullah insisted British leave
Penang.
British refused & attacked Seberang
Perai & Kedah.
 BRITISH
1791 - Sultan Kedah lost & forced with
agreement from British.
Include British rights to stay in Penang
& $6,000 Spanish Peso as yearly
compensation.
Kedah unhappy with conditions &
stopped food supply to Penang.
 BRITISH
British know Kedah is weak.
1800 - British forced Kedah to
surrender Seberang Perai through
agreement.
Sultan of Kedah is paid $10,000
Spanish Peso as compensation for his
willingness to give up Seberang Perai.
No mention of protection offered to
Kedah.
 BRITISH
British planned to find another new port in an
area closer to the Straits of Malacca.
Stamford Raffles was given this duty and he
found Singapore was suitable.
Raffles then found out that there was a
struggle for the throne between the two
princes of the Sultan of Johore, Sultan
Mahmud III.
 BRITISH
Raffles recognized Tengku Husin, elder son,
and the Sultan of Johore.
1819 - Tengku Husin allowed Raffles to open
a British settlement in S’pore as per an
agreement.
Stated that the British must pay $3000
Spanish Peso and protect Tengku Husin,
and that the ruler of Johore or his heir cannot
form any relationship with other European
powers.
 BRITISH
British conquered 2 important ports in
Malaya.
In 1824, an agreement was signed
between the British and the Dutch.
Both parties determined the boundary
of their respective land as to avoid any
conflict that may cause a war.
 BRITISH
North & East of Malacca Straits belong to the
British and the South and West region
belong to the Dutch.
Dutch surrendered Malacca to British &
British surrendered Bangkahulu to Dutch.
British had 3 ports.
Established Straits Settlement (Negeri-
negeri Selat) consisted of Penang, Malacca
& Singapore.
 BRITISH
EMPIRE IN
MALAYA
BRITISH ARMY
BRITISH ARMY
 BRITISH
Colonization of Sabah started.
Surrender of Brunei’s right over the West of
Sabah to Overbeck & Dent Company, a
company owned by Baron Von Overbeck, an
Austrian and Alfred Dent, a British.
Alfred Dent obtained permission from British
government to establish British North Borneo
Company to carry out its activities in Sabah..
 BRITISH
Colonization spread to Sarawak.
1841 - James Brooke succeeded as
Sarawak Governor by representatives
of Sultan of Brunei after succeeded in
destroying rebellion in Sarawak.
Brooke was successful in forcing the
Sultan of Brunei to surrender Sarawak
to him.
 BRITISH
Introduced the Resident system.
Role of Resident was to advise Sultan
in all aspects of administration
except in religion and Malay
customs.
Sultan must follow the advice of the
Resident.
Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor,
Pahang under residency.
 BRITISH
Resident was not given clear guidelines of
duties.
Residents used their own discretion and
judgement to carry out duties.
There were Residents who did not co-
operate from the local ministers (Pembesar).
For example, Sultan Perak disliked J.W.W
Birch and he also faced oppositions from
local ministers until he was killed in Pasir
Salak.
 BRITISH
J.G. Davidson and Frank Swettenham,
2 other residents were very good in
taking care feelings of local ministers.
Slavery was abolished slowly through
an arranged mechanism without
offending them.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES
1895 - Federated Malay States
established due to weakness of
Resident System.
4 states that had Residents (Perak,
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan &
Pahang) were combined.
Head of the federation was Resident
General, based in Kuala Lumpur.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES
Residents were head administrators of
the state government’s department only.
No longer the Sultans’ adviser .
UNFEDERATED MALAY
STATES
Adviser system was carried out.
Different from the Resident System.
Malay rulers were not required to follow
the advice of the British adviser.
1910 - Kelantan accepted British
adviser officially through a mutual
agreement.
J.S Mason appointed first adviser.
RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
British administration caused dissatisfaction
among ministers & people.
Resistance in Naning
Issue - Naning as a part of Malacca empire,
tax-paying
Leader - Datuk Dol Said
Resistance in Selangor
Issue - The appointment of Tengku Kudin as
the Selangor viceroy by British
Leader - Raja Mahadi
 RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
Resistance in Perak
Issue - Pangkor Agreement 1874,
J.W.W. Birch was appointed First
Resident & Sultan Abdullah was
recognized as Sultan Perak. Birch
meddled with the affairs of the
Malay including the Malay customs.
Leader - Datuk Maharaja Lela
DATO
MAHARAJA LELA
RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
Resistance in Negeri Sembilan
Issue - Power struggle between Tengku
Antah and Datuk Kelana. Tax issue in
Sungai Ujong.
Leader - Tengku Antah, appointed as
Yamtuan Besar Seri Menanti and British
tried to colonize Negeri Sembilan.
RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
Resistance in Pahang
Issue - Civil war between Wan Ahmad
and Wan Muhatir over the post of
Bendahara. Resistance started when
J.P. Rodger appointed as Resident and
introduced the "Collector and
Magistrate".
Leader - Tok Gajah, Datuk Bahaman
DATO BAHAMAN
 RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
Resistance in Kelantan
Issue - Rebellion of Tok Janggut in Pasir
Puteh. British imposed various taxes on
locals.
Leader - Tok Janggut (Haji Wan Hassan)
 
Resistance in Terengganu
Issue - Tani rebellion. British imposed taxes
and restriction. Rules to get pass to open
lands.
Leader - Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong
TOK JANGGUT
RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
Resistance in Sabah
Issue - British entered through North
Borneo Chartered Company that
introduced the development efforts that
caused difficulties to the locals, imposed
taxes on locals and forcing locals to
become forced labourers without pay.
Leader – Mat Salleh
MAT SALLEH
RESISTANCE BY LOCALS
Resistance in Sarawak
Issue - James Brooke's
rule: tried to eradicate
the custom and tradition
that was the practice of
the locals
Leader - Sharif
Masahor, Rentap
RENTAP