CHAPTER 1:

HISTORY AND POLITICS

(Early History of Malaysia)
MALAYSIAN STUDIES 2 (MPU2163)
LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, students will able to:

Explain the history of nation.

Reflect upon the contributions from various individuals

involved in defending the nation’s sovereignty and freedom
THE MALAY KINGDOMS

Johore kingdoms

Other kingdoms
(Perak, Pahang,
Melaka Malay Negeri Sembilan,
government Selangor,
Terengganu, Kedah
& Kelantan)

MALAY
KINGDOMS
POLITICS & ADMINISTRATION

Political system: monarchy:-

The ruler has absolute power over the

people and kingdom

The title of the ruler: Sultan

The power/authority of the ruler being

supported by the concept of Daulat
(sovereignty) and Tulah (curse)
 ADMINISTRATION

Fourfold System
– the main officials:- Others:-:

Bendahara – manage and run the Syahbandar (port officer)

administration, acting the sultan

Penghulu Bendahari – responsible Hulubalang (commander of

in financial matters such as tax, war)
national property etc

Temenggung – internal security,

head of protocol

Laksamana – national security

ADMINISTRATION

Law and regulation

Two types of law; written and non-written law

Be influenced by custom and religious (Islamic Law / Shariah)

Example of written law:

Hukum Kanun Melaka – criminal and civil law

Undang-undang Laut Melaka – maritime law

ECONOMIC

Maritime economic based

• Trading
• Example of port: Lembah Bujang, Riau, Malacca etc

Mining – gold, tin, iron etc.

Agriculture product – rice, black paper, corn, wood

& spice.

Currency – tin, gold & barter system

Tax – compulsory, serve as national income

SOCIAL
PEOPLE RELIGION
a) Malay a) Hindu
b) Natives (Orang Asli) b) Islam
c) Peranakan Chinese
d) Tamil Muslim

CUSTOM Language
a) Adat Temenggung (Sumatera) a) Malay Language
b) Adat Perpatih (Sumatera)

Written & Taxation & Currency

Unwritten Laws a) Taxation – Compulsory
a) Hukum Kanun Melaka b) Currency – made of tin, gold, some
cases barter system
b) Customs and Religion
 COLONIZATION IN MALAYA

Portuguese Dutch British Siamese Japanese

1641-1824 1824-1942 & 1821-1909

1511-1641 1945-1957 Colonized the
(183 years) ( 88 years)
(130 years) (130 years) entire country.

Colonized the Mainly in the

whole northern Great influence
Mainly in states of
peninsular on the life of
Mainly in Malacca. Did Peninsular;
not leave many Malaysia in people , in
Malacca. Was two phases. Perlis, Kedah,
opposed by the traces. Kelantan. terms of
Malay. Focused more relations
on Indonesia. between races.
Left behind Great influence
significant especially in
influence religion Opposed by
Was opposed by
(politics, (Buddhism) and
Did not leave the Malays, the whole
economic & arts.
many traces. received help from country.
social)
the Bugis.
REASONS FOR BRITISH
COLONIZATION

Spread
Christianity

Land for
Natural
plantation
resources
–
(tin &
especially
rubber)
Reasons for rubber tree
British
Colonization

Trading –
Cheap spices,
labour merchandis
e etc
CHRONOLOGY OF
BRITISH COLOZATION
Date Events
1786 Penang Island was founded by Francis Light
1819 Singapore was founded by Stamford Raffles
1824 The Dutch handed over Malacca to the British
Penang, Malacca, Singapore were known as Straits
1826
Settlements
1841 James Brooke took over Sarawak
1874 British intervention in Perak & Sungei Ujong
1878 Sultan of Brunei handed over Sabah to the British
1888 British intervention in Pahang
CHRONOLOGY OF BRITISH
COLOZATION (CONT.)
Date Events
Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan were united as Federated
1896
Malay States
Siam handed over Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan & Terengganu to British (Non-
1909
Federated Malay States)
1914 Johor accepted a British advisor

1945 British Military Administration (BMA) was established

1946 Malayan Union was established

1948 Federation of Malaya replaced Malayan Union
1957 Malaya achieved independence
THE IMPACTS OF BRITISH
COLONIZATION
Political impacts:-
Malay archipelago was divided into 2 political spheres
•British : states to the north of Singapore
•Dutch: states to the south of Singapore

Malaya was divided into 5 political units

•The Straits Settlement
•The Federated Malay States
•The Un-federated Malay States
•Sabah
•Sarawak

Introduction of Westminster system of Government - E.g.,

Parliamentary democracy

Adoption of some English legal system into the local legal system

A member of the Commonwealth Association

THE IMPACTS OF BRITISH
COLONIZATION
Economical impacts:-
Transportation system
• Roads - Network of roads were built to transport goods

Railway
• The development of railway contributed mostly to the fast development of tin mining
activities

Post, Telephone and Telegraph

• the first post office was built in the Straits Settlements
• Telegraph – to improve the efficiency of the administration
• Telephone – first used in the Straits Settlements
Urbanization / New Cities
• Developed due to trade and mining activities and communication system.

Modern Agriculture
• the British introduced rubber and palm oil around 1900-1920s
THE IMPACTS OF BRITISH
COLONIZATION
Social impacts:-
Education
• Introduced vernacular education
system
• Based on the important race
• Schools built to cater for vernacular
system
Multi Racial Society
• Main race in Malaysia was the Malays
• (The opening of tin mining, sugar cane
and rubber plantations by the British
contributed the influx of immigrants in
Malaysia such as the Chinese and the
Indians)
WATCH VIDEO: BRITISH
COLONIZATION
▪ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nncOcrKpT8E
THE RISE OF JAPAN

Meiji Dynasty- launched a programme

of modernization following Western
European lines - To be most powerful
country in military and industries.

Developed rapidly in industries but

lack of raw material and land for
plantations.

The answer of these problems: - Japan

had to find more land and it should be
taken by force.
AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS
Japan invaded Manchuria
(1931), followed by the rest of
China(1937) and Indo-
China(1940).

European &American were

very suspicious :-

• they imposed a total embargo on the

sale of oil to Japan.

Japanese thought - to take

military action to win the raw
material in Asia
THE ATTACK ON PEARL HABOUR
Since British and Holland involved
in fighting against Hitler in w.w 2-
British disable to protect their
territories in S.E.A

Japanese action started in the

attack on Pearl Harbour (7 Dec
1941)- Japanese launched on air
attack on the American base.

* Japanese attack on Malaya was

launched simultaneously with that
on Pearl Harbour.
 HOW WAS MALAYA DEFEATED?

Within 10 weeks the whole peninsula and

Singapore had been captured.

Attacked from Singgora, K.Bharu and

Patani

Attacked from landward side and not from

sea.

Once landed - forced Thai to sign a treaty

That could not attack Japanese from rear.

Sinking of 2 battleships - Prince of Wales

and repulse.
 WHY JAPANESE WON?
1. Japanese tactics and preparation.
Japanese military skill which
mastered of jungle warfare and
strategies adopted by Japanese-
to attack from land.

Japanese Morale- Most

dedicated and courageous :-even
their number 1/2 than British but
they won the war.

Japanese propaganda- Asia for

Asia
 WHY JAPANESE WON?
2. British Unprepared
Britain’s other commitments -
against Hitler in Europe and fighting
against German and Italy in the
deserts of North Africa :- limited
resources that could help Malaya to
fight with Japan.

Malaya Military weakness - British

and local soldiers unprepared for war
- inadequate training and lacked of
experience.
LIFE UNDER JAPANESE
Economy Effects

Economy of Malaya for the benefits of

conquerors.

Malaya man and money for the benefit of

Japanese war effort ,foodstuffs & resources
were taken for the use by the army.

Self-sufficiency campaign - food shortage.

Mass plantation of crops- tapioca and yam.

Thousand Malaya people died and starvation.
LIFE UNDER JAPANESE

British policy of
destruction - railway,
bridges, road and rubber
& tin industries destroyed.
• unemployment arose and there
was widespread poverty.
• business communication
effected
• trade with outside world cut down
especially in Penang and
Singapore.
LIFE UNDER JAPANESE

Social Effects
Freedom of movement restricted - by introduction
of the peace living certificate:- household
responsible for the behavior of all members of family
and restricted people’s movement within Malaya.

Education- based on the system in Japan such as

speak Japanese language,appreciate the culture of
Japan,Singing the Japanese national song.
 HOW THEY TREATED US?

India-Treated Indian better and

encouraging the idea of Indian
Independence and campaign for India to
break free from British rule.

Malays- quite well to win the support of

Malays - promising them independence.

Chinese - Badly treated because

Japanese and China involved in war
since 1937.
THE SURRENDER OF JAPANESE

May 1945, German defeated in

Europe :- Britain could
concentrate to East Asia states.

Allies were ready to invade Japan

at this time and August 1945 2
atomic bombs were dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

15 August 1945- Japanese

surrendered.
Watch :Video on Rising Sun Over Malaya
https://youtu.be/K4nEfXqhSUs