lecture 3 - british direct intervention

8/13/2019 Lecture 3 - British Direct Intervention

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YOUR FUTUREBEGINS HERE

MPW 123

Malaysian Studies

By

Hj. Kamal Abd Razak

MBA Techno-Entrepreneurship

[email protected]

012-6550746
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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THE COLONIAL ERA


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Direct Intervention


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Factors for British Intervention

Rich in raw materials like tin

Industrial revolutions in Europe: raw

materials and export markets


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Investment by English businessmen

especially in tin mining

Fear of other western powers

intervention like Italy, German,

France, etc


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Opening of Suez canal in 1869

Situation of anarchy (lawlessness, socialand political disorders)

Civil wars between rulers and noblemenover throne and territory


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Wars between Chinese secret societies

Pirate activities in Straits of Malacca

Conservative Party elected in 1874, change of

foreign policy


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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)


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PERAK 1874

Chieftains such as Ngah Ibrahim and Raja

Abdullah requested Britishs help

The Pangkor Treatywas signed (1874)

J.W.W. Birchappointed the first resident


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SELANGOR (1874)

Civil war involving Raja Mahadi and RajaAbdullah

British intervention was not welcomed

British cargo boat was attackedBritish took asan excuse to intervene

J.G. Davidsonappointed the ResidentandFrank Swettenhamas his assistant.


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PAHANG (1880)

Civil war between Wan Mutahir and Wan

Ahmad for the post of Chief Minister

A British citizen was murderedBritish

took as an excuse to interfere

Sultan Ahmad was forced to sign a treaty

and receive a Resident (1888)

J.P. Rodger (Resident)


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The Resident System

Duties of the Resident

1. To restore and maintain peace and order

2. To develop the resources of the state3. To set up a regular system of revenue

collection and administration


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Problems faced by the Residents

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


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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


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Merits of the Resident System

Stable government, peace and order

Development in transport and communication

Development in agriculturerubber was introduced

Social changesdebt slavery abolished


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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


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Headed by a Resident-General based in KualaLumpur

The Resident-General responsible to the HighCommissioner in Singapore

Federal Council, 1895, acting like a Cabinet wassetup in Kuala Lumpur

Durbar Conference, 1897, meeting of the fourRulers, to discuss customary practices, Islam and

Malay welfare


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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


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Reasons for setting up FMS

to address Pahangs financial problems

to standardize the administration (lead to

efficiency)

to ensure security

to check the Residents power


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Merits of FMS

Efficient administration

stable government peace and order

heads of departments set up

system of justice, police and armywere created


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Merits of FMS

Economic progress

improved communications

increase in population development of tin and rubber industries

growth of towns

increase in revenue


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Non-federated Malay States

Kelantan, Terengganu, KedahandPerliswere under the protection of Siam

Bangkok Treaty 1909, the Siamese

agreed to hand over these states to theBritish

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


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British power made it difficult for other

Western power to penetrate the Northern

states

1919the four states were combined as

the Non-Federated Malay States


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Having successfully expanded into the

Unfederated Malay States the British

effectively controlled the whole of

peninsula.


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DECENTRALISATION OF POWER

distribution of central power (1920s)

important powers distributed to the states

concerned

finance and services

Railway

Custom and postal service


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Underlying factor for decentralization

1. dissatisfaction among the Sultans (states

with Residents)

2. Decline of world economy in the 1920s.

3. The struggle of power between the

Resident General and High

Commissioner.

4. British intention to combine the FMS and

NFMS


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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.


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Conclude

However, this distribution of power was

not successful because the Japanese

invaded Malaya in 1941.


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Thank You

lecture 3 - british direct intervention

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