Y3 British Malaya Notes

Colonialism: A Case Study of British Malaya British Presence in Malaya (Pre 1870) ➔ British East India Company sought to establish trading bases through signing treaties in the region ◆ To protect trade between China and India ◆ Allowed traders to resupply and repair their ships ● Wait for favorable winds to continue their journey ◆ Buy Local products and sell European goods Penang ➔ British East India set up a trading port in Penang in 1786 ◆ Given to them by the Sultan of Kedah ◆ British in turn gave protection against Siam (Thailand) ◆ Accepted the offer to safeguard and protect their commerce from piracy Straits Settlements ➔ Formed in 1826 ◆ Made up of Melaka, Penang and Singapore ◆ Ruled by a British Governor to cut costs and better promote trade Conclusion ➔ Early British presence in Malaya was rather limited

British Presence in Malaya (Post 1870) Historical Conditions Economic Opportunities for British Trade Context: Industrial Revolution ➔ Production of machine manufactured goods in the late 19th century ◆ Continuous supply of raw material needed ◆ Tin was too expensive to produce ➔ Large tin deposits were discovered in some Malay States ◆ Supply was threatened by disorder in the tin-mining areas ◆ The British felt they had to intervene in local politics to protect their interests Context: Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 ➔ Travelling time between Britain and Malaya from 4 months to 6 weeks ➔ Increased trade between South East Asia and the World ◆ Encouraged European Expansion overseas ➔ With the increased trade in South East Asia, the British needed to find new bases in the region to protect British shipping and fight piracy along the waterways Competition from other European Powers Context: The Long Depression (1873-1896) ➔ Caused Britain to lose dominance in the world economy to newly industrialised countries ◆ Sought to maintain its dominance by seizing more territories to protect existing trade links ➔ However, other European powers were also keen in extending their political influence and trade (French, Dutch) How would such a situation prompt the British to react? ➔ Britain's reaction was governed by fear ◆ If they did not intervene in the Malay States, other European countries may secure a firm footing there and threaten economic interests

◆ If they failed to respond to requests by Local Malay rulers to resolve local disputes, they may turn to other European powers for help Context: Change in British Colonial Policy ➔ Prior to 1873 ◆ The Government believed in free trade ◆ Disinterested in Overseas Possessions due to costs in Administration ➔ After 1873 ◆ New Government aimed to boost Britain´s prestige through colonialism and to pre empt any possible threat from other powers Developments in Local Circumstances Succession Disputes ➔ Succession Disputes were common to break out in Malay States as when a King died, the eldest son did not automatically become the next king ◆ This was brought about by how the rulers often had many wives, and sons of rival wives would compete for the throne ➔ The rotation process in Perak further complicated the process by allowing for heirs to the throne to be rotated amongst the descendants of the 3 royal families ◆ The successor had to move through a series of appointments before becoming the Sultan ➔ The different appointments were ◆ Raja di Hillir (1st One, also known as the Ruler of the Downstream Region) ◆ Raja Bendahara (2nd One, also known as a chief minister) ◆ Raja Muda (3rd one, also known as a Crown Prince) ➔ The rationale of the rotation system ◆ Ensure that sons from each of the 3 royal families could become Sultans successively ◆ Ensure that only men with administrative experience came to the throne ➔ In 1871, Sultan Ali died ◆ Naturally, you would expect the Raja Muda (who at the time was Raja Muda) to take over

➔ However, Malay Custom required the next sultan to be at the funeral to recieve the royal regalia and acknowledgements ◆ Raja Abdullah feared travelling through Raja Yusuf´s territory and did not go to the funeral ● He lost claim to the throne ➔ Thus, Raja Ismail eventually became Sultan of Perak ◆ Resulted in him being challenged by both Raja Abdullah and Yusuf Larut Wars ➔ Discovery of Large tin deposits in Larut in the 1840s, which gave job opportunities ➔ Large inflow of Chinese Labourers from Penang and South China into Larut, Perak ➔ However, frequent clashes occurred between two groups of Chinese Miners in Larut in the 1840s ◆ Secret societies often fought for control over existing and discovered mining plots and waterways as there was no clear boundary of who owned what ➔ The two main groups were ◆ Ghee Hins ● Cantonese ● Mainly controlled mines around Kamunting ◆ Hai Sans ● Hakkas ● Mainly controlled mines around Taiping First Larut War (1861) ➔ Hai Sans cut off a water supply to a new mine discovered by the Ghee Hins ➔ Ghee Hins were defeated, fled to Penang to ask the British Governor for help ◆ The Governor intervened and Ngah Ibrahim agreed to compensate the Ghee Hins Second Larut War (1865) ➔ Hai Sans were STILL angry with the British for supporting the Ghee Hins (yes its been 4 years) ◆ Hai Sans attacked the Ghee Hins

➔ Ghee Hins lost and fled to Penang ◆ Governor refused to help ➔ Fighting spread to Penang, resulting in the Penang Riots of 1867 ➔ A settlement was reached after the British fined everyone 5000 Spanish Dollars Third Larut War (1872) ➔ Scandal between a Ghee Hin Leader and wife of the Hai San leader ◆ But it was just an excuse to fight ➔ Hai Sans driven out because the Ghee Hins hired professional fighters ◆ Governor refused to take action ➔ Hai Sans reattacked the Ghee Hins Fourth Larut War (1873) ➔ Raja Abdullah wanted the help of the Ghee Hins ◆ Promised to give them back the mines and pay for the war against the Hai Sans ➔ Major Civil War broke out in Larut Area in 1873 Pangkor Treaty ➔ In view of the civil war in Perak in 1873, local businessmen appealed to the British to intervene and restore law and order in the Malay States ◆ Culminated in the signing of the Pangkor Treaty on 20 Jan 1874 ➔ British recognised Raja Abdullah as Sultan of Perak ◆ Raja Ismail offered a title and Pension ➔ Introduced a British Resident based in Perak ◆ British Resident to ¨advise¨ the Sultan on ● Collection of Revenue ● General Administration of Perak Residential System in Perak ➔ Pangkor Treaty opened the door for British indirect rule in Perak through the appointment of a resident and the creation of the Residential System ◆ First Resident of Perak - James W. W. Birch

Duties and Challenges of the Resident ➔ Maintain Jus