MPW1133 Malaysian StudiesJanuary-March 2014 Semester 3

Name :Phor Cin TxiangB2013-0036Ooi Wan WeiB2013-0019And Kok KeongB2013-0029

Tutor:Mr. Peter Soh Weng KhaiPresentation Date:11 February 2014

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Development of ethnic relations in Malaya peaceful co-existence to racial conflict and racial cooperation from the British colonial period through to the Japanese Occupation, the communist period and independence of Federation of Malaya in 1957*

In the late 18th century the British East India Company partly controlled India they began looking for a base in Malaya. In 1786 the British under Francis Light occupied Penang and founded Georgetown. In 1800 they took Province WellesleyBukit Mertajam).By the treaty of London, 1824, the British and Dutch divided the region between them. The Dutch surrendered Melaka to the British. The Dutch were givencontrolof Sumatra and all the area below the Malay Peninsula.

*Francis Light

The Straits Settlements, as they were called, (Penang, Melaka and Singapore) grew rapidly partly due to an influx of Chinese and Indian workers. Furthermore until 1867 the East India Company controlled the Straits Settlements not the British Government. However in 1867 they were made a crown colony.British control of Sarawak began in 1841. In 1840 a man named James Brooke helped the Sultan of Brunei to crush a rebellion. As a reward he was given territory to rule and in 1841 he was granted the title of Raja of Sarawak. Brooke's territory was enlarged in 1853.*

The Ethic relationship of British invasion could be consider as good. This is because when British take control over Malaya they do not kill or harm the locals but instead they help us to be a much more stronger country. A lot of us might think that the British is bad because most of us does not see the bigger picture of the invasion. Them coming over and take control of our country is bad but in the very same way they help us in our economic and political system. *

The Japanese occupation was an important event in the history of Malaya.Although the occupation was short for only three and half years (15 February 1942 to 15 August 1945), they had a great impact on the country.*

The conquest of the whole Malaya was fast and effective.The whole Malaya and Singapore were defeated in only 70 days.The Japanese spread Asian Economic Co-Prosperity Sphere and Asia for the Asians to gain support from Asian people*

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To get raw materials (tin)To get new places to accommodate Japans increasing populationTo drive out the Europeans*

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Effect of the Japanese invasionFrom the social aspect , the Japanese invasion worsened the relationship among the races in the country because the Japanese were against the Chinese and on the side of the Malays. This made the Chinese seek refuge at the edge of the jungles. The misunderstanding between the Malays and the Chinese continued even after the Japanese had surrendered. From the economic aspect, Malaya was in complete confusion. Much of the economic infrastructure was destroyed and economic activities were disrupted causing the lives of the people to become worse and inflation continued to escalate. From the political aspect, it was found that the Japanese administration was a period of misery for the local citizens and the experience raised their political awareness. The Malays were attracted to the slogan Asia for Asians which stirred them to build their own government.*

Japanese invasionThe ethic relationship of Japanese invasion is bad. This is because the Japanese uses slogan such as Asia for Asia People to lie to the locals so that the locals began to rebel against the British and the Japanese could invade Malaya. A lot of people especially the Chinese were killed and harmed by the Japanese during the invasion as the Chinese does not really agree with the Japanese . *

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The Chinese, on the other hand, established the Malayan Peoples Anti -Japanese Army(MPAJA) to fight the Japanese and strengthen the Communist Party of Malaya. The Japanese used the police force (mainly Malays) to fight against the MPAJA (consisting mainly of Chinese) thus causing racial friction and fighting between the Chinese and the Malays. When the Japanese surrendered towards the end of World War II, the MPAJA had the chance to be in power. They took advantage of the tardiness of the British in their peacekeeping efforts. The MPAJA terrorized and took revenge on the Malays, whom they accused of supporting the Japanese who had treated the Chinese badly during the Japanese rule. The bloody conflict between the Chinese and Malays lasted two weeks until the British established the British Army Administration. *

The Ethic relationship of Communist invasion could be consider as good. The Communist try everything that could stop the Japanese invasion. *

Independence of federation of Malaya in 1957The termination of the Malayan Union in 1948 had made the British to commit themselves to prepare the way for the Federations independence.

Under pressure of strong Malay nationalist movement, that is UMNO, the British introduced elections in 1951 at the local level.

The three main ethic group in the country (UMNO, MCA, and MIC) were joining together fighting for independence.

The first federal elections were held in 1995, the UMNO-MIC-MIC Alliance, which was headed by Tunku Abdul Rahman. He was then appointed as the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.

31 August 1957- Independence and formation of Federation of MalayaIn the Independence day, Tunku Abdul Rahman delivered his speech, said it was the greatest moment in the life of Malayan people.Tunku Abdul Rahman led a group of Alliance party leaders to London to negotiate about the independence of Malaya and the negotiations is successfully achieved in February 1956.

The ethic relationship of independence of federation of Malaya in 1957 is good. This is because that the country gained freedom and is ruled by own people.

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