Direct Intervention

BRITISH INTERVENTION in THE MALAY STATES

From 1824 – 1873, the British in Malaya had tried to refrain from interfering in the affairs of the Malay states.

When the Straits Settlements were transferred from the control of the Indian government to the Colonial Office in 1867, the traits community thought that there would be intervention.

BRITISH INTERVENTION in THE MALAY STATES

In September 1873, Lord Kimberely , Secretary of the colonial office, inaugurated a policy of intervention in the affairs of the Maya states.

Factors for British Intervention

Rich in raw materials like tin

Industrial revolutions in Europe: raw materials and export markets

Factors for British Intervention Investment by English businessmen especially in tin

mining

Fear of other western powers intervention like Italy, German, France, etc

Factors for British Intervention

Opening of Suez canal in 1869

Situation of anarchy (lawlessness, social and political disorders)

Civil wars between rulers and noblemen over throne and territory

Factors for British Intervention Wars between Chinese secret societies

Pirate activities in Straits of Malacca

Conservative Party elected in 1874, change of foreign policy

The Resident System

THE RESIDENTAL SYSTEM IN MALAY STATE

During the last three decades of the nineteenth century, Britain became increasingly involved in the internal affair of the Malay State.

Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, the sultans accepted British officials to help them rule.

THE RESIDENTAL SYSTEM IN MALAY STATE

These officials were called Residents, and the system of governing with assistance from a resident was know as the Residential System.

The Resident System British intervened with the excuse of protecting the

interests on British merchants

Chaos broke out with the Larut War (for the control over the tin mines)

PERAK 1874 The British intervened with excuse of

protecting the interest of British merchants

Chaos broke out with Larut War ( for control of the tin mines)

PERAK 1874 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

PERAK 1874

Chieftains such as Ngah Ibrahim and Raja Abdullah requested British’s help

The Pangkor Treaty was signed on 20th January 1874

J.W.W. Birch appointed the first resident

SELANGOR (1874) Civil war involving Raja Mahadi and Raja

Abdullah

Tengku Kudin and Yap Ah Loy supported Raja Abdullah

Selangor Sultan and Sayid Masyor supported Raja Mahadi

SELANGOR (1874) British intervention was not welcomed

In 1873, a British cargo boat was attacked by pirates. British took as an excuse to intervene

In August 1874, J.G. Davidson appointed as Resident and Frank Swettenham as his assistant.

PAHANG (1880s) Civil war between Wan Mutahir and Wan Ahmad for

the post of Chief Minister

The British were worried over Sultan Ahmad’s suggestion to give the trade concessions to Western powers

PAHANG (1880s) A British citizen was murdered – British took

as an excuse to interfere

Sultan Ahmad was forced to sign a treaty and receive a Resident (1888)

J.P. Rodger (Resident)

Sungai Ujung (1874) Stuggle 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 aknoeldge as chief of Sungai Ujong.

Sungai Ujung (1874) However, the appointment of Dato’ kelana

and British presence were opposed by Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal

The British army. Led by w.A Pickering successfully defeated Dato’ Bandar Kulup Tunggal

Sungai Ujung (1874) Sungai Ujong accepted British Advisor, W.I

Tatham.

Analysis of British Intervention The colonization was spurred by internal

weaknesses such as unrest and civil war in the states concerned.

Analysis of British Intervention In other words there was no unity among

the inhabitants and this gave the British the chance and excuse to intervene by instilling an advisor (and later Resident)

Analysis of British Intervention Second the presence of important

economic resources such as tin ore and agricultural products in these states were also the reasons for intervention.

Analysis of British Intervention Third, there was strong competition among

the western powers for colonies to meet the economic needs of their country thus the need for intervention.

The Resident System

Duties of the Resident

1. To restore and maintain peace and order

2. To develop the resources of the state

3. To set up a regular system of revenue collection and administration

Problems faced by the Resident

No set of rules or instructions to guide them

Depended on their own initiative and resourcefulness

No authority to force Sultan to accept his advice

ignorance of local values and sensibilities

For Instance J.W.W. Birch in Perak was not liked by Sultan and

was opposed by the Perak chief until he was killed in Pasir Salak

Birch cancelled a loan the Sultan and granted to a trader.

Brought disgrace to the Sultan

Merits of the Resident System Stable government, peace and order

Development in transport and communication

Development in agriculture – rubber was introduced

Social changes – debt slavery abolished

Merits of the Resident System

Substantial economic growth.

Foreign investment – more effective exploitation of natural resources.

Greater revenue – higher standard of living.

Multi-cultural society – increase in Malaya’s population.

The Federated Malay States (FMS)

The Federated Malay States (FMS) Through the Federation Agreement (1896) the

“Federated Malay States” were formed

Federal Treaty, consisting of Selangor, Perak, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan

The Federated Malay States (FMS) Headed by a Resident-General based in Kuala

Lumpur

The role of the Resident-General was to advise on all aspects of government except on issues relating to Islam and Malay customs

The Federated Malay States (FMS) The Resident-General responsible to the

High Commissioner in Singapore

The first Resident-General was Frank Swettenham.

Federal Council Federal Council, 1895, acting like a Cabinet

was setup in Kuala Lumpur

The aim is to increase the power of the rulers and the residents in the states concerned.

Federal Council High Commisoner (President) Resident General 4 Sultans 4 Residents 4 unofficial members ( 3 Europeans and 1

Chinese)

Federal Council Obvious effect of the establishment of the

council was the gradual weakening of the power of the sultan and the State Executive Council

Federal Council This become very clear went when sultan

become only an ordinary member with no decision-making power.

Laws were signed and passed by the High Commissioner and not the Sultan.

Durbar To create a better relationship between the

rulers and the British officers, a Conference of Malay Rulers known as Durbar was introduced

Durbar Conference, 1897, meeting of the four Rulers, to discuss customary practices, Islam and Malay welfare

Reasons for setting up FMS

to address Pahang’s financial problems

to standardize the administration (lead to efficiency)

to ensure security

to check the Residents’ power

Merits of FMS

Efficient administration stable government

peace and order

heads of departments set up

System of justice, police and army were created

Merits of FMSEconomic progress

improved communications increase in population development of tin and rubber industries growth of towns increase in revenue

Non-federated Malay States

Non-federated Malay States Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis were

under the protection of Siam

Bangkok Treaty 1909, the Siamese agreed to hand over these states to the British

British advisors were appointed i.e. Kelantan-J.S. Mason 1910

Non-federated Malay States British power made it difficult for other Western

power to penetrate the Northern states

1919 – the four states were combined as the “Non-Federated Malay States”

Non-federated Malay States Having successfully expanded into the Unfederated

Malay States the British effectively controlled the whole of peninsula.

Decentralization of Power

Decentralization of Power Means that the important powers relating to

administration of finance and services, such as the railway, customs and postal services that were once under central control, would be distributed to the states concerned

Underlying factor for decentralization

1. dissatisfaction among the Sultans concerning their decision-making power; unlike the rulers in Non-Federated where the had greater power over their own state.

2. Decline of world economy in the 1920s.

Underlying factor for decentralization

3. The struggle of power between the Resident General and High Commissioner.

4. Only a few Malays were in the administration

Underlying factor for decentralization

3. Loss of power of the Sultans and State Councils

4. British intention to combine the FMS and NFMS

Conclude Distribution of power implemented by English was

based on economic and political motives.

British had intention of ruling whole of Malaya under one administrative entity that is Malayan Union.

Conclude However, this distribution of power was not

successful because the Japanese invaded Malaya in 1941.

Questions

List the struggle and sacrifices of our freedom fighters.