XFORD IN ASIA COLLEGE TEXTS
THE MAKI NG OF MODERN MALAYSIA AND
SINGAPORE
N. J. Ryan
OXFORD IN ASIA COLLEGE TEXTS
The formation of Malaysia in 1963 and the independence
of Singapore in 1965 have meant the reshaping of the existing histories of
Malaya. Malaysia includes the territories of Sabah and Sarawak, which- means
that the new histories must be presented with a much wider coverage. They must
include not only the events leading up to the formation of Malaysia and the
independence of Singapore, but also the earlier history of the. component
states.
A large portion of this book consists of material
relating to the history of Sabah and Sarawak in the nineteenth century and also
to recent events in South-East Asia.
The book is based upon the author's experience in
teaching in the upper forms of Malaysian secondary schools. Though primarily
intended for students preparing for the School Certificate Examination, it
should also be of use to the general reader who requires a short and up-to-date
history of Malaysia and Singapore presented in a South-East Asian context
rather than as an adjunct to European politics.
Oxford in Asia College Texts is a series of reprints
and new books published as paperbacks designed to help university and College
students (in the developing countries of the Commonwealth and in other similar
areas) to overcome the problem of the high price of imported books.
A wide range of subjects is covered, and the titles
selected for reprinting and inclusion in the series are all standard textbooks
or works of reference with an established international reputation. Their
appeal is sufficiently wide for them to be of equal value in no matter which
country they are being used, and they are selected with particular attention to、the needs of advanced students.
From time to time new books which possess the same
qualities as 广 these
established titles will be chosen for inclusion in the series. As the series
grows it will lay the foundation of a valuable and comprehensive ‘university'
library.
ISBN 0 19 638120 7
THE MAKING OF MODERN MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE
A HISTORY FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO 1966
N. J. RYAN, o.b.e., p.m.p.
formerly Malayan Education Service
KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPORE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Oxford University Press, Ely House, London W.1
GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE WELUNGTON
CAPE TOWN IBADAN NAIROBI DAR ES SALAAM LUSAKA ADDIS
ABABA
DELHI BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS KARACHI LAHORE DACCA
KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPORE JAKARTA HONG KONG TOKYO
875 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 10
© Oxford University Press 1963, 1967 and 1969
First published 1963 with the title
*The Making of Modern Malaya"
Fourth edition (revised) 1969
Sixth impression 1974
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.
Printed in Singapore by
PRINTERS & CONVERTERS PTE. LTD.
PREFACE
The formation of the state of Malaysia in 1963 has
necessitated the reshaping of the existing histories of Malaya. Malaysia is a
much larger entity than the former Federation of Malaya for it includes die
territories of Sabah and Sarawak in north-western Borneo. This has meant that
the history of Malaysia must be presented with a much wider coverage than a
history of Malaya. It must include not only the events in Sabah, Brunei and
Sarawak leading up to the formation of Malaysia but also the earlier history of
these states from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century.
A considerable part of this book is based upon the
author's The Making of Modern Malaya but many sections have been recast and
much new material has been added. This new material relates particularly to the
history of Sabah and Sarawak in the nineteenth century and also to events in
South-East Asia between 1957 and 1966. There are also many more illustrations
and maps and it is hoped that these will enhance the usefulness of the book.
Nevertheless the general layout of the contents of the
book is based on the experience gained in teaching in the upper forms of
Malaysian secondary schools. The book is primarily intended for teachers and
pupils but it should also meet the needs of the general reader who requires a
short, up-to-date history of Malaysia. It has been the intention of the author
to present the history of Malaysia in a South-East Asian context rather than as
an adjunct to European politics; for it is now realized, for example, that the
Malay Peninsula in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was affected more
by the A Chinese and the Bugis than by the Dutch. In recent years a new
approach to Malaysian history has been developed; this is an approach which
places less reliance on uncritical acceptance of the works of earlier writers.
In following this fresh outlook the author would like to acknowledge his
indebtedness to the work of Dr. C.D. Cowan, Dr. D.K. Bassett and Dr. A. Lamb.
Since the publication of the last edition of this book
Singapore's attainment of independence in 1965 and its subsequent activities as
an independent nation have required a fresh approach to its history.
Accordingly, in this new edition an attempt has been made to provide a proper
perspective for an understanding of its history by examining comprehensively
Singapore's growth in the last one hundred and fifty years. The picture
supplements have been adapted to provide an adequate visual parallel to the
historical record. In order to tailor the book more closely to student
requirements exercises have been added and a consolidated bibliography provided
to encourage further reading.
Hong Kong, 1969 N.
j. r.
CONTENTS
PREFACE
MAPS
TABLE OF EVENTS
INTRODUCTION: MALAYSIA IN HISTORY
1. MALAYSIA'S EARLIEST HISTORY
The Earliest Malaysians,
Trade and the Influence of India,
Centres of Power: First to Fourteenth
Centuries,
A Summary,
2.THE MALACCA AND BRUNEI SULTANATES
Origins and Early History,
Chinese Influence,
The Influence of Islam,
The Expansion of Malacca,
Tun Perak and Tun Mutahir,
Brunei,
3.THE PORTUGUESE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA
The Arab Trading Monopoly,
The Voyages of Discovery,
Portuguese Settlements in Asia,
The Portuguese take Malacca,
4.MALAYSIA IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
Malacca under the Portuguese,
Johore against Portuguese Malacca,
Acheh against Johore and Portuguese
Malacca,
The Coming of the Dutch,
5.SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY MALAYSIA
The Dutch in Asia,
Dutch Policy and Practice,
The Capture of Malacca,
Dutch Trade Policy,
The Johore Empire,
6.EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY MALAYSIA AND THE BUGIS
Rivalry in the Johore Sultanate,
The Growing Influence of the Bugis,
Dutch Conflict with the Bugis,
The Decline of the Bugis,
Kelantan, Trengganu and Pahang,
7.THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS
British Trading Interests in Eastern Asia,
The Establishment of Penang,
The British in Malacca,
The Establishment of Singapore,
The Return of Dutch Possessions,
Raffles and the Rulers of Johore,
The Rapid Growth of Singapore,
8.MALAYSIA IN THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY
Britain's Policy of Non-Intervention,
Occasions of Early British Intervention,
Negotiations with the Siamese,
The Naning War,
Negotiations with Johore,
The Purpose of Intervention,
Sarawak,
9.THE SUCCESS OF SINGAPORE 1823-1870
Administration from India,
The Trade of Singapore,
Population Growth and Problems,
Administrative Change,
10.THE BEGINNINGS OF A PLURAL SOCIETY
Chinese Immigration,
Attitude of the Chinese Government,
The Attraction of the Straits Settlements,
Chinese Labourers for the Tin Mines,
11.BRITISH INTERVENTION IN THE STATES OF THE PENINSULA
Attitude of the British Government,
The Reasons for Intervention,
Civil War in Selangor,
Rivalry in Perak,
The Need for Stable Administration,
Beginnings of British Intervention,
12.THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
The Idea of Indirect Rule',
Failure in Perak,
Success in Some Areas,
The System in Pahang,
The British North Borneo Company,
13.THE CONSOLIDATION OF BRITISH INFLUENCE
The Need for Inter-State Co-operation,
The Federated Malay States,
Faults of the New Federation,
The Federal Legislative Council,
The Unfederated Malay States,
Britain Gains Control from Siam,
Administration in East Malaysia,
A Summing Up,
14.THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYSIA、ECONOMY
Tin,
Rubber,
Revenue Put to Use,
Labour,
15.SINGAPORE AS A COLONY 1870-1941
The Chinese Protectorate,
The System of Government,
Commerce,
Social Conditions,
Strategic Importance,
16.MALAYSIA BETWEEN THE WARS: 1918-41
Centralization versus Rights of the States,
189 q Decentralization Begins,
Administrative Change in East Malaysia,
Economic Problems,
Social Changes,
Chinese Political Parties,
Malay Nationalist Movements and Political
Parties,
A Summing Up,
17.THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN ASIA
Japanese Designs in China,
Japanese Attacks on the United States and
Malaysia,
Japanese Occupation of Malaysia,
The Decline of Japanese Power,
The End of the War,.
18.POST-WAR MALAYSIA
Constitutional Changes,
The Borneo States become Colonies,
Opposition to Malayan Union,
A New Constitution,
The Emergency,
Independence,
19.SINGAPORE—FROM COLONY TO CITY STATE
Crown Colony Government,
The Rendal Constitution,
Negotiations far Self Government,
Self-Government,
Social and Economic Progress,
20.MALAYSIA AND CONFRONTATION
Independent Malaya,
Prelude to Merger,
The Planning of Malaysia,
Confrontation,
The Formation of Malaysia,
War and Peace,
SUPPLEMENTARY READING AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
INDEX
MAPS
The Spread of Islam in South-East Asia
Malacca's Trade in the Fifteenth Century
Extent of the Malacca Sultanate
Extent of Achinese conquests
South-East Asia, c. 1680
The Malay Peninsula in 1895
The Japanese Campaign in Malaya, 1941-2
TABLE OF EVENTS
Malaysia’s Earliest History
c. 2500 b.c. Proto-Malays reach Malay Peninsula
c. 300.B.C. Deutero-Malays arrive in Malay Peninsula
c. a.d. 100 Indian trading contact with north-west
Malaya
c. a.d. 350 Indianized settlements in Kedah
c. a.d. 700-1000 Srivijaya
1292 Marco Polo's voyage through Straits of Malacca
The Malacca Sultanate
1398 /1400 Foundation of Malacca by Parameswara
1405 Chinese Admiral Yin Ching visits Malacca
1411 Parameswara visits China with Admiral Cheng Ho
1414 Parameswara converted to Islam
1445 Islam becomes Malacca's state religion
1470 Malacca strongest state in South-East Asia
1498 Death of Tun Perak
1509 First arrival of the Portuguese (de Sequeira)
1511 The fall of Malacca to Albuquerque
The Sixteenth Century
1520's Brunei at the height of its power― Sultan
Bulkeiah
1526 Johore capital of Bin tang destroyed by
Portuguese
1539 Johore and allies defeat Achinese
1547 St. Francis Xavier in Malacca-Achinese attack
1564 Johore Lama attacked by Achinese
1575 Achinese conquest of Perak
1577 Spanish attack on Brunei
1587 Portuguese destruction of Johore Lama
1595-6 Dutch arrival in South-East Asia
The Seventeenth Century
1606 Dutch defeat of Portuguese fleet off Johore
1606 Combined Johore-Dutch attack on Malacca
1629 Achinese attack on Malacca-Mahkota Alam
1639 Dutch Treaty
with Johore
1641 Dutch capture
Malacca
1670 Dutch build
fort on Pulau Pangkor
1673 Johore capital Batu Sawar destroyed by Jambi.
Capital transferred to Riau
1680 Bugis settlement in Selangor begins
1699 Assassination of Sultan Mahmud ends Johore direct
succession from Malacca
The Eighteenth Century
1717-8 Fall of the Johore Empire to Raja Kechil from
Siak
1721-2 Bugis mercenaries used to defeat Raja Kechil
1722 Daeng Merewah becomes first Bugis under-King in
Johore 1742 Establishment of Bugis Sultanate in Selangor
1771 British ofiEered a trading post in Kedah
1773-5 British settlement at Balambangan in Borneo
1777 Raja Haji becomes under-King in Johore
1784 Bugis attack on Malacca (Raja Haji)
1786 The British acquisition of Penang (Capt. Francis
Light)
1791 Sultan of Kedah's attempt to invade Penang
1799 British capture of Malacca from the Dutch
1800 Acquisition of Province Wellesley by Penang
The Nineteenth Century
1811 British invasion and capture of Johore
1817 Raffles becomes Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen
1819 Founding of Singapore by Raffles
1821 Siamese invasion of Kedah
1824 The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of London
1826 Anglo-Siamese Treaty of Bangkok
1826 Low's treaty with Perak
1831-2 Naning War in Malacca
1842 James Brooke becomes Raja of Sarawak
1842 Siamese detach Perlis from Kedah
1847 Brunei cedes Labuan to Britain
1850 Tin discovered in Larut (Long Ja'afar)
1858 Beginning of tin mining round Kuala Lumpur
1862 British bombard Kuala Trengganu
1862 Outbreak of Larut Wars in Perak
1866 Beginning of Selangor civil war
1867 Supervision of Straits Settlements transferred
from the India to the Colonial Office
1874 The Pangkor Engagement—British intervention in
the Malay States
1875 British Residents appointed to Perak and Selangor
1876 First cultivated rubber seedlings in Singapore
1881 Formation of British North Borneo Company
1885 First railway—Taiping to Port Weld
1887 First tin smelter built in Singapore
1888 British protection given to Brunei, Sarawak and
North Borneo
1889 British Resident appointed to Pahang
1896 Establishment of die Federated Malay States
1897 First Rulers’ Conference in Kuala Kangsar
1897 Anglo-Siamese Convention
The Twentieth Century
1904 Malaya produces 50 per cent, of world tin
1906 British Adviser appointed to Brunei
1909 Anglo-Siamese Treaty—British Advisers for
Kelantan, Kedah, Trengganu and Perlis
1909 Establishment of Federal Council in Federated
Malay States 1914 British General Adviser in Johore
1917 Vyner Brooke becomes Third Raja
1920 Malaya produces 53 per cent, of world rubber
1923 Causeway linking Johore and Singapore built
1929 The Great Depression
1936 Communist-inspired strikes in Singapore
1937 Japanese invasion of China
1939 Outbreak of war in Europe
1941 Japanese landing near Kota Bharu
1942 Fall of Singapore to the Japanese
1943 Formation of Force 136
1945 Defeat of Japan and end of Second World War
1946 Malayan Union—formation of U.M.N.O.
1946 North Borneo and Sarawak become British colonies
1948 Establishment of Federation of Malaya
1948 Beginning of the Emergency
1949 Formation of M.C.A.
1951 Appointment of General Templer as High
Commissioner in Malaya
1955 First Federal Elections—Tengku Abdul Rahman,
Chief Minister
1957 The Independence of the Federation of Malaya.
1959 Singapore attains internal self-government
1963 Formation of Malaysia-composed of Malaya,
Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak
1963 Indonesian Confrontation of Malaysia
1965 Singapore leaves Malaysia
1966 Confrontation ends