W2 : Early History of Malaysia

Clarence Ngui Yew Kit

Early History of Malaysia
1. Early Human Settlements
2. Early Kingdoms
3. The Melaka Sultanate
4. European Colonization
5. Japanese Occupation
Learning Outcomes
• At the end of this lesson, students will able to:
Ø Explain the existence of the Malay Kingdoms
Ø Explain the history of colonization of Malaysia
1. Early Human Settlements
Prehistorical sites in
Malaysia:
• The earliest evidence of human
• Kota Tampan, Perak habitation in Malaysia is the
• Niah Cave, Sarawak 40,000-year-old skull excavated
• Tingkayu, Sabah from Niah Caves, Sarawak
• Sungai Tembeling, • The skulls in the picture were
Pahang proven to be linked with the
• Gua Harimau, Perak indigenous people in Borneo
• Gua Cha, Kelantan
2. Early Kingdoms
a. Kedah Tua (Old Kedah)
• Site: Bujang Valley (3rd – 14th century)
• A Hindu-Buddhist kingdom, possibly a
part of Langkasuka
• Oldest civilization in SEAsia?
• Older than Angkor Wat in Cambodia
and Borobudur in Indonesia

Candi Sungai Batu

b. Other Early Kingdoms
• Funan, Srivijaya, Majapahit, Gangga Negara
• HOWEVER – the main polities of these kingdoms may not be in
present-day Malaysian borders.
3. The Melaka Sultanate
a. Founding of the Melaka Sultanate
• In the late 14th century, Srivijaya
was attacked by Majapahit.
• This led a Palembang prince,
Parameswara, to flee.
• Palembang → Temasik
(Singapore) → Muar → Melaka
• Name of Melaka:-
Ø The Melaka tree
Ø Malaqat (Arabic for Shelter)

• Source? Details of events of the founding of Mel → aka sultanate up to

Portuguese occupation was written in Sulalatus Salatin (Hikayat Melayu /
The Malay Annals)
b. Rise of Melaka
• C.1400: founding of Melaka by Parameswara, a Hindu prince from
Palembang, Sumatra.
• Unclear who converted to Islam, whether it is Parameswara or the
second ruler, Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah.
• Conversion to Islam allowed Melaka to:-
Ø Leverage on the Indian-Muslim traders.
Ø Spread of Islam to Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Maluku
Ø Linked Melaka to the cultural Muslim World and commercial world
of the Indian Ocean basin.
• Height of Melaka coincided with the Ming Dynasty’s Treasure Fleet – it
is believed Parameswara and his heirs all made tributary trips to China,
received in return Chinese recognition for Melaka.
Islam in China … and its link to Melaka
• 7th Century Tang Dynasty: Islam arrived in China via the Silk Road
• Muslims were diverse – ethnic Chinese, Mongols, Persians and Arabs
• Muslims officials were employed by the imperial administration –
mainly during Yuan and Ming Dynasties.
• SEASian historians believe that Islam came to SEAsia via China –
through the Treasure Fleet of the Ming Dynasty led by Admiral Zheng
He.
 Melaka and the Ming Dynasty
• Early 1400s, China acknowledged Melaka by sending gifts and royal
regalia
• Melaka gained China’s protection and deterred attacks from Siam and
Majapahit
c. The Golden Age of Melaka

Political and
Geographical
Economic factors administrative Social Factors
factors
factors

Strategically located Close relationship

in the midway of the between Melaka and
international oceanic Melaka as a major China Malay language as
trade route trading hub lingua franca

Comprehensive
Narrow pathway and security measures
protected from and military system
strong winds - Orang Laut (Sea
People)
Rich in Natural
Resources (Forest Centre for the
Shielded by Produce and spread of Islam
Minerals – Gold, Tin) Well organized law
Sumatera island
and treasury system
d. Politics, Economy and Social
Political System: Absolute Monarchy

Meaning: The ruler has absolute power over the Example of Court
people and kingdom Languages:
• Titah (decree)
The title of the ruler: Sultan
• Patik (i)
• Murka (angry)
The power/authority of the ruler being supported by
the concept of Daulat (sovereignty) and Tulah (curse) • Gering (ill)
• Mangkat (deceased)
Sultan was assisted by court officials, known as the
Fourfold Dignitary System
Administration : The Four Main Officials

Bendahara – The main minister, Sultan’s advisor,

Act as regent in the absence of Sultan Other officials:-:

Penghulu Bendahari – The treasurer, Controls the

finances of the country, Responsible for tax Syahbandar (port
collections and state revenues officer)
Hulubalang
(commander of war)
Temenggung – Head of legal matters, state laws
and security, Head of the police, Act as prosecutor
if someone was found to have committed a crime,
Head of Protocol

Laksamana – Warrior during times of war, Bearer of

Royal Sword, Diplomat to escort royal envoys
Laws and regulation

Two types of law; written and non-written law

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

Examples of written law:

Hukum Kanun Melaka – criminal and civil law

Undang-undang Laut Melaka – maritime law

Melaka’s Economy and Social Settings
Tax: Compulsory,
Currency used: Tin,
Serves as National
Gold, Barter System
Income

Customs: Adat
Language: Malay
Temenggung, Adat
Perpatih Language

People: Malay,
Religions: Islam and Orang Asli,
Hindu Peranakan Chinese,
Tamil Muslim
e. The Decline of Melaka
Internal Factors
• Weak administrative and defense system
• Disunity among the people
• Weak understanding of religion

External Factors

• 1511: Melaka was attacked by Portuguese

• Discovery of Cape of Good Hope – Shortcut
to Melaka for Western Powers
• Spying and Melaka defense system being
leaked
The Malay Muslim Kingdoms

Johor

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

MALAY
KINGDOMS
Formation of the Malay Monarchies
• First Sultan of Perak was Raja Muzaffar, son of Sultan Mahmud, the
Perak
last Sultan of Melaka.
• Raja Ali, Raja Muzaffar’s half brother, became Sultan Mahmud’s
Johor
successor and was installed as first Sultan of Johor
• The first Sultan of Pahang was Sultan Muhammad Syah, the son of
Pahang Sultan Mansur Syah from Melaka. He was banished for kiliing
Bendahara’s son.
• Raja Kasah from Minangkabau was first invited to become the ruler of
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan by the locals
• Raja Lumu, son of Daeng Chelak (one of the five Bugis brothers),
Selangor
went to Perak and seek enthronement as Sultan of Selangor
• Tun Zainal was installed as Sultan of Terengganu by Phra Nang
Terengganu Chayang, King of Pattani. Tun Zainal was descendent from Bendahara
family in Johor
• First Kedah ruler was Raja Merong Mahawangsa and the seventh king
Kedah of the dynasty, Phra Ong Mahawangsa embraced Islam in 1136 and
bore title Sultan Muzaffar Syah. The sultanate exists until today.
• Ruled by Jambal dynasty, followed by Long Yunus Dynasty until today.
Kelantan The state also once ruled by female rulers such as Puteri Saadong and
Cik Siti Wan Kembang
4. European Colonization

Portuguese
(1511 - 1641)
Dutch
(1641 – 1824)
British Japanese
(1786 – 1941) (1941 – 1945)
British
(1945 – 1957)

Independence
31st August 1957
a. Portuguese (1511-1641)
• Occupied Melaka for 130 years
• Built A Famosa to protect Melaka from being attacked by
Sultan Mahmud forces

• Reasons for occupation:

Ø Glory
Ø Gold
Ø Gospel (Spread Christianity)

• Impact of Portuguese Colonization

Ø Formation of Serani community (Intermarriage between
Portuguese and locals)
Ø Introduction of Roman Alphabet
Ø Assimilation of Portuguese words into Malay language
such as jendela (window), almari (cupboard), tuala
(towel) and garfu (fork).
b. Dutch (1641-1824)
• Occupied Melaka, Perak and Selangor, but
focused more on Batavia (Present day
Jakarta)
• Reasons for occupation:
Ø Control spice trade in Malay archipelago
Ø Monopolize tin trade
• The signing of English-Dutch Agreement in
Dutch Square, Melaka
1824:-
• Division of the Malay Archipelago into
two areas, one under the British
(Present day Malaya) and one under the
Dutch (Present day Indonesia)
• Built Dutch Fort in Pulau Pangkor, Perak to Dutch Fort, Perak

control trade route in Perak

Sir Frank Swettenham (1850-1946)
Chronology of British Colonization
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

1826 Penang, Malacca, Singapore were known as Straits Settlements

1841 James Brooke took over Sarawak

1874 British intervention in Perak and Sungei Ujong

1878 Sultan of Brunei handed over Sabah to the British

1888 British intervention in Pahang

Date Events

1896 Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan were united as Federated Malay States

Siam handed over Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan & Terengganu to British (Non-Federated Malay
1909
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 Pangkor Treaty 1874

• PT – ended the dispute for the throne of Perak and the squabbles
among the Chinese merchants over tin-mining rights.
• Marked the beginning of British Administration in the Malay
States and Malaya.
• Boom of Malaya’s economy – a stable and rich hinterland for
commodity-exports for the ports of Singapore and Penang.
• ALSO – beginning of Malay Nationalism – murder of JWW Birch
by Dato’ Mahajarela – exile of Sult Abdullah to Seychelles Island.
Impact of British Colonization
• Adoption of English legal system
• Introduction of Westminster system
(Parliamentary Democracy)
Political
• Member of Commonwealth
Association

• Introduction of vernacular schools

Social
• Multiracial society

• Development of transportation and

Economic communication system (railway,
road, telegraph)
• British Malaya needed cheap and reliable labour to work mines and
plantations.
• Natives were generally NOT incline to participate in the colonial
economy.
d. Siamese Influence

เจ้าพระยาฤทธิสงครามรามภักดีศรีสลุ ต่าน, เจ้าพระยาไทรบุรี

Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah of Kedah (1882-1943)

• Until 1909, Siam has sovereignty over four Malay States – Perlis, Kedah,
Kelantan and Terengganu.
• The Anglo-Siamese Treaty transferred the sovereignty of these states to
the British in 1909 – renamed as the Unfederated Malay States.
5. Japanese Occupation
• Occupied the whole Malay Peninsula and
Singapore
• Reasons for occupation:
Ø Sought raw materials to support industrial
revolution in Japan
Ø Signed treaty with Thai to allow Japan to pass
through
• Factors to Japan’s victory:
Ø British were unprepared, Japanese attacked
on Pearl Harbor
Ø Japan attacked by sea and not by air as
expected by British
Ø Thorough preparations by Japanese army
Ø Japanese soldiers were trained, experienced,
highly motivated
Ø Used “Asia for Asia” to win the local people
• A new Malay Peninsula administration was
formed and called Malai Baru
Fall of Singapore 15 Feb 1942

• 15 Feb 1942 – Fall of Singapore. Churchil considered as “The worst disaster

and largest capitulation in British History”.
• General Arthur Percival surrendered his 100,000-man command in
Singapore – the largest surrender in British military history
The Sook Ching (肃清) Massacre

• 18 Feb – 4 Mar 1942: The ‘Holocaust’ of Malaya and Singapore – as many as

100,000 men, women and children were killed.
• The Japanese through the Kempeitai Secret Police exclusively targeted the
Chinese community during the Sook Ching.
Impact of Japanese Colonization
• Brought political awareness to locals through
Japanese slogan “Asia for Asia”
Political • Locals were aware of British weaknesses
• Locals had opportunities to hold
administrative posts

• Oppression on Chinese people

• Many youths were conscripted as labour to
Social
build Death Railway
• Rice shortage, people had to rely on tapioca

• Economic depression, Unemployment rate

increased
Economic • Tin and rubber trades decline
• Value of currency fell badly, Banana leaf
currency had little value
How they treated the Malayans?

Indians

• Treated Indian better and supported the idea of

Indian Independence and campaign for India to
break free from British rule

Malays

• Treated quite well to win the support of Malays and

promised them independence

Chinese

• Badly treated because Japanese and China were

involved in war since 1937
The Japanese Surrender

May 1945, German was defeated in Europe. Britain was

able to concentrate on East Asia states.

Allies were ready to invade Japan at this time and in

August 1945 2 atomic bombs were dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki

15 August 1945: Japanese surrendered

THANK YOU
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