MPW1133 Malaysian Studies

January-March 2014 Semester 3

Name : Phor Cin Txiang B2013-0036
Ooi Wan Wei B2013-0019
And Kok Keong B2013-0029

Tutor: Mr. Peter Soh Weng Khai
Presentation 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
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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 given control of Sumatra and all the area below the Malay Peninsula.


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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
population
To drive out the Europeans
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Effect of the Japanese invasion
From 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.
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Japanese invasion
The 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.

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The Ethic relationship of Communist invasion
could be consider as good. The Communist try
everything that could stop the Japanese
invasion.
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Independence of federation of Malaya in 1957
The 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
Malaya
In 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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