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Jan 1, 1500
Before the Europeans
Before the Europeans, Sultanates were the kings or leaders of Malaysia. These Sultanates used the natural resources found in Asia to trade with other Southeastern empires and kingdoms to gain their wealth. Their main religion was Islam. The great wealth of Malacaa and Malaya was the first reason that the Portugese wanted Malaysia as a trading center. -
Aug 24, 1511
The Portugese Colonize Malacaa - Colonialism
The King of Portugal wanted to stop muslim trade and control trade himself throughout the Indian Ocean. So then he sent ships in the King's name to make contact with the King of Malacaa. After two waves of attacks on the country, Portugal prevailed over Malacaa and colonized it. -
Period: Aug 24, 1511 to
Malaysia as a Portugese Colony
During this time, Malaysia was a Portugese Colony -
The Dutch Seize Control of Malacaa - Colonialism
The Dutch wanted to liberate the east of Portugesse rule. So with the help of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, whom have already tried fighting the Portugese, they were able to drive out the Portugese and call Malacaa their own. -
Period: to
Malaysia as a Dutch Colony
During this time, Malaysia was a Dutch Colony -
British Colonization of Singapore - Colonialism
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was the man who initiated this colonization. Singapore became the center of the Indian China Trade routes. Being so close to modern day Malaysia, the colonization of singapore also benifited the upcoming colonization of the mainland. By colonizing Singapore, the British gained an advantage in their Indian-China trade routes. -
The British Take Control of Malacaa - Colonialism
In 1824, the Dutch signed Malacaa over to the British in exchange for Bencoolen in Indonesia in the Anglo-Duthc Treaty. The Dutch decided to make the trade because the Napoleonic Wars caused the French to be looking for territory, so the Dutch decided to let the British protect the colony. With Singapore already colonized in 1819, Malacaa became an add on to their Indian China Trade routes. -
Period: to
Malaysia as a British Colony
During this time,Malaysia was a British Colony -
Creation of the Malayan Communist Party - Communism
After the downfall of the South Seas Communist Party, the Communist party of Malaya was formed. They mainly operated in Malaya and Singapore but were also responsible for Thailand and Dutch East Indies as they did not have their own communist parties. This party was soon to be the main cause of many problems for the next century. -
Invasion by Japanese Empire (Start of Pacific War/WWII) - Colonialism
The Japanese moved through Pacific Islands and started colonizing them. With much of the Dutch and British gone from Malacaa, some people there welcomed the Japanese as liberators. But the promise of freedom was lost along time and the Malacaa people were turned into laborers and had to work for the Japanese. -
Period: to
Malaysia Occupied by Japanese Empire
During this time (WWII) Malaysia was invaded and occupied by the Japanese Empire -
Freedom from Japan - Nationalism
After 2 atomic bombs, and the declaration of war from Russia, the Japanese Empire finally surrenders and hands their conquered territory back to their former owners. In Malaysia, the territory was handed back to the British, and was under the temporary control of the British Military Administration, but soon it was clear that Malaya was going to be independent soon, much like many other British Colonies. -
Creation of the Malayan Union - Nationalism
After Japan left, the British started loosening up on their control of their colonies, and they helped Malaya create the Malayan Union. The Malayan Union only lasted for 2 years, and on January 31, 1948, the Malayan Union's constitution and government were amended, so the name was changed to the Federation of Malaya. -
Period: to
Malayan Union
After the Japnese Surrendered, the British and Malayasia created the Malayan Union -
Period: to
Federation of Malaya
After the Union of Malaya was reformed, it became known as the Federation of Malaya -
The Malayan Emergency - Nationalism
This was a civil war between Communist activists and the Malayan/ British forces. After the British returned after World War II, many Malayans, especially the ethnic Chinese, showed anger towards British rule and government, and the creation of the Federation of Malaya and started uprisings. With a 3 phase plan, they intended to and attack rural areas, then cities to overthrow the government. After 12 years the war ended and almost all terrorist activity had stopped in 1960. -
The Malayan Communist Party is Banned - Nationalism
Following the start of the Emergency, the people of the CPM began getting arrested by the hundreds. The insurgents who escaped arrest fled to the junlges where they regrouped to forme the Malayan's Peoples' Anti British Army(MPABA), many who had been in the MPAJA. Despite this, the Party took refuge in supporting nations such as Thailand and continued to cause trouble in Malaysia, fighting mainly because they opposed British rule. -
Full Independence from Britain - Nationalism
The Federation of Malaya today celebrates it's independence from Britain as a colony, and is instead apart of the British commonwealth. In the Commonwealth, which includes other former colonies, there is no binding relationship, except that all of the countries all hold the value of Human Rights, Freedom, and Democracy. -
Start of the Sarawak Insurgency - Communism
Starting with the Brunei Revolt, the North Kalimantan Communist Party started a insurgency on Sarawak, or North Brunei against the Malaysian Government. There was a similar insurgency on Peninsular Malaysia by the CPM. At the same time, the CPM joined in, and these two parties caused havoc among Malaysia with terrorism and attacks on military bases and police stations. While these parties were outlawed in Malaysia, these parties hid out in countries such as Thai where communism was supported. -
Creation of Malaysia - Nationalism
On This day, the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Singapore, and Sarawak came together to form Malaysia as we know it today with the Malaysia Agreement. Malaysia then also joined the British Commonwealth as one. One particular reason that these countries came together was partially becuase of the mass communist influence in Asia, and since these countries were small alone, and not communist, they were not recognized as allies to many countries in Asia. So by coming together, this is much like -
Period: to
Malaysia
This is the Malaysia that we know today. This Malaysia is conposed of the Federation of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia), Sarawak, Sabah (East Malaysia), and Singapore, who later left. -
Malaysia and Singapore Separate - Nationalism
Political Tensions within Malaysia's political parties and the PAP (People's Action Party) caused unrest between ethnic Malays and Chinese because the PAP, a very powerful party in the Malaysia, was mainly composed of British educated Chinese. The Malays and the other parties accused the PAP of trying to get China to take power in Malaysia. A result, the PAP and other political parties such as the Singapore Labor Party were forced to leave Malaysia and become an independent country. -
The End of the Sarawak Insurgency/The CPM Lays Down Their Arms - Nationalism
On December 2nd peace treaties were signed between Malaysian and Thai governments. Separate treaties were signed between the CPM and two governments. The treaty also allowed CPM members to return home to Malaysia, and the time of unstability and terrorism was over in Malaysia.
