Chapter 11 Malaysia

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Chapter X

Federation Of Malaysia
Prepared by: Ricardo D. Fernandez
LAND
The Federation of Malaysia extends from the southern border of Thailand through the
Malay Peninsula to northern part of the island of Borneo. With a total of 127,316 square miles.
Malaysia consists of 13 states-nine former Malay sultanates:
• Perak
• Selangor
• Negri Sembilan
• Johore
• Perlis
• Kelantan
• Kedah
• Terengganu
Two former British Settlements:
• Penang and Malacca
Two former British Colonies:
• Sabah and Sarawak
Malaysia has the strategic Straits
of Malacca, which control the sea-lane
between South China Sea and the
Indian Ocean.
Major seaports in West Malaysia
are Port Kelang, Georgetown and
Malacca.
Malaysia is tropical and just like
the Philippines.
Malaysia is the world’s largest producer of tin and rubber. Chief agriculture and
forestry products are rice, palm oil, cacao, coconuts and timber.
People
Of the total population of
21,528,000, 45% of whom are Malays,
40% are Chinese and the rest are
Asians ( Indians, Pakistani, Filipinos),
Americans and Europeans. The native
minorities are the Semangs, Dayaks,
Dusuns, Badjaos, etc.
The Malaysians belong to the
brown race.
Malaysia has a federal system of
government composed of 13 states.
The Federation of Malaysia is the
official title of the state. And Malaysia is
a parliamentary system of government
with prime minister who acts as the
head of the government.
Early History
• The Malayans were descendants of Malay immigrants who came from Yunnan
between 2,500 and 1,500 BC.
• Indian immigrants came into the Malay Peninsula in the early centuries after the
death pf Christ. They brought Hinduism and Buddhism.
• In the 8th century, the Sri Vidjaya extended sovereignty over Malay Peninsula.
But was overthrow by the Majapahit, a Hindu empire based in Java. It was in the
late 8th century.
Malacca
• Driven out of Singapore, Parameswara
and his people retreated to the north and
settled in Malacca, a tiny fishing village. In
1403, he established the kingdom of
Malacca.
• Malacca gradually became the center of
Islamic culture and the base of Muslim
missionaries in Southeast Asia.
• Malacca also became a flourishing
commercial empire as it assumed the
economic power once held by the Sri
Vidjaya and Majapahit empires.
Portuguese and Dutch Expansion
• The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish overseas empire in South
East Asia. In 1510, the Portuguese used the Indian port of Goa as their trading
and administrative center the conquest. And they attacked and captured Malacca
in 1511.
• For 130 years, the Portuguese merchants enjoyed the fabulous profits from the
spice trade.
World War II

• Japanese imperial forces easily defeated the British in Malaya during World War
II. On December 10,1941, Japanese aircraft sank the two British men-of-war. The
Prince of Wales and the Repulse off the coast of Malaya. On Feb.15,1942, the
“impregnable” and mighty Fortress Singapore fell to the Japanese.
• Implementing the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”. The Japanese
encouraged a cooperation and friendship policy for the people of the occupied
countries. They also encouraged the growth of Malayan nationalism.
The Chinese in Malaya
however, were treated harshly.
They arrested, tortured, and
even killed. The communism
Malayan People’s
anti-Japanese Army under the
command of Chin Peng, a
Chinese communist leader, led
guerilla resistance against
Japanese occupation.
Post-War Malaya
• The British returned to Malaya in September 1945, and restored their rule. In
1946, the British created the Malayan Union for all Malay states and the Straits
Settlements of Penang and Malacca. Singapore remained a crown colony of
Britain.
• Malayan nationalists opposed the new government because it extended common
citizenship to all within the Union and that meant Chinese dominance of Malayan
political affairs
• In response to this clamor, the British authorities changed the Malayan Union to
The Federation of Malaya (inaugurated February 1, 1948) was governed by a
British High Commissioner.
The Federation of Malaya

Dato’ Onn bin Jaafar Mentri


Besar of Johor, and President of
the United Malays National
Organization, unpacking the State
and Federation of Malaya
Agreements with Dr. W. Linehan,
C.M.G. Adviser on Constitutional
Affairs, for the signatures of His
Highness the Sultan of Johor,
1948.
The Communist Rebellion 1948-1957
• In June 1948, the Malayan
Communist Party helped by the
remnants of Malayan People’s
Anti-Japanese Army began its
struggle to establish in Malaya a
socialist government modeled from
that of Mao Tse Tung’s China.
• The rebellion was crushed in 1957.
About 6,000 communist rebels were
killed by government forces; about
2,000 surrendered. Others escaped
to the borders to evade arrest.
Independence and Federation of Malaysia
• On August 31,1957, Malaya became an independent state called the Federation
of Malaya with an elected head of state (Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Paramount
ruler) and a Prime Minister as head of government.
• On May 1961, Prime Minister Abdul Rahman launched a movement to unite
Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei into an independent Federation
of Malaysia.
On September 16.1963, the
Federation of Malaysia was
formally established. Abdul
Rahman became its first Prime
Minister. It included 14 states
(Singapore initially joined the
federation).
Racial Riots Of 1969
• Since her independence, animosity and tension had developed between
Malayans and the Chinese. The Malayans dominated the political affairs of the
Federation but the Chinese had almost pervasive control of the economy and
the wealth of the nation.
• On May 1969 the two groups clashed violently in riots for a week that caused
many deaths to both Malays and Chinese, and destruction to properties.
• To suppress the social disorder, the government suspended the Constitution
and declared a national state of emergency throughout Malaysia. And in 1971,
after the restoration of peace and order, the constitution and the parliament
were likewise restored.

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