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Straits Settlements and the British
The British came to the Malay Peninsula to create ports for trading. Malaya and Singapore were strategic locations for trading and resources that would be beneficial in the future as well. The British were expanding their control from India and needed to stop the spread of the Dutch, who were controlling the region at the time. Three British colonies were established called the Straits Settlements. The colonies included Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. -
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Straits Settlements
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The Pangkor Treaty and British Malaya
During this time, the Malay states were arguing over the throne of a large state, Perak. The British authorities didn't like the disturbance, so they forced Malayan rulers to sign a peace treaty. The Pangkor Treaty gave the British great rule over the region and control over most of the profitable tin mines. Of course, the local Malayans didn't like this. -
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British Malaya
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Japanese Attack on Malaya and Singapore
During this time, Singapore was flourishing from trade and exports. However, everything went south during World War II, when the Japanese invaded Malaya and Singapore and drove the British out. The battle lasted for two months, with the Japanese gaining control of Malaya. The people in the region suffered and lived in fear during the Japanese occupation. Three years later, in 1945, Britain gained back control of Malaya and Singapore. The aftermath of the war stirred up nationalism. -
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Japanese Occupation of Malaya
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Creation of Malayan Union
In 1946, the Malayan Union became official. The Malayan Union was created to protect the economic privileges for the British in Malaya, and it also prepared local Malays to form their own government. The union conisisted of all the Malay states and strait settlements that were all under control by the British. Singapore was not included in the Malayan Union, and instead became a crown colony. -
Federation of Malaya
Several groups held endless rallies, movements, countermovements, proposals, and counterproposals for the independence of Malaya and Singapore. Finally, the British formed the Federation of Malaya, which would gradually lead the Malayan states to independence... under the guidance of the British. -
Malayan Communist Party Uprising
A group called the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) started uprising against the British authorities. After members of the party murdered three European managers, the British authorities were in panic. The MCP announced an armed rebellion against British authorities for the immediate independence of Malaya. -
Independence of Malaya and Singapore
The British government finally granted Malaya and Singapore independence in 1957. The leader of the independence group, Tunku Abdul Rahman, became the first prime minister of the Malayan region. Singapore was now a self-governing country, with Lee Kuan Yew as the new prime minister. -
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Independence Era
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Creation of Malaysia
The Malayan prime minister, Tunku, proposed a merge between the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah. Tunku and Lee Kuan Yew both agreed that merging would provide defense, security, better foreign affairs, among other benefits. However, two years later, Singapore separated from Malaysia, and became its own independent democratic nation. -
Bibliography 1
"Colonial Malaysia 1511 AD - 1957 AD." Colonial Malaysia 1511 AD - 1957 AD. Geographia, 2002. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. "Japanese Occupation." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. "Malaysia Independence and Recent History: 1957 - Present." Malaysia Independence and Recent History: 1957 - Present. Geographia, 2002. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. -
Bibliography 2
Mui, Andy. "The Early History of Malaysia." The Early History of Malaysia. LinkedIn Corporation, 27 Oct. 2011. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. "Singapore - Aftermath of War." Singapore - Aftermath of War. U.S. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. "Singapore: History." Singapore 1994. Singapore: Publicity Division, Ministry of Information and the Arts, 1994. N. pag. Print.
