Direct Intervention

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 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

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

The Pangkor Treaty was signed (1874)

J.W.W. Birch appointed the first resident

SELANGOR (1874) Civil war involving Raja Mahadi and Raja Abdullah

British intervention was not welcomed

British cargo boat was attacked – British took as an excuse to intervene

J.G. Davidson appointed the Resident and Frank Swettenham as his assistant.

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

the post of Chief Minister 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)

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

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 Resident-General responsible to the High

Commissioner in Singapore Federal Council, 1895, acting like a Cabinet was

setup in Kuala Lumpur Durbar Conference, 1897, meeting of the four

Rulers, to discuss customary practices, Islam and Malay welfare

The Federated Malay States (FMS) Federal Council, 1895, acting like a Cabinet

was setup in Kuala Lumpur

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 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.

DECENTRALISATION OF POWER

distribution of central power (1920s) important powers distributed to the states

concerned finance and services Railway Custom and postal service

Underlying factor for decentralization

1. dissatisfaction among the Sultans (states with Residents)

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. 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 (p.g.19)

List the struggle and sacrifices of our freedom fighters.