MALAYSIAN HISTORY (http://all.talkmalaysia.

com/malaysia-history/)
Archaeological Iindings indicate that civilisation in Peninsular Malaysia (Tanah Melayu) dates
back to in the New Stone Age (Neolithic Period). The Hoanbinhin civilisation thrived between
2000 BC and 1500 BC. Handmade metal artiIacts used by the Proto-Malays and Deutero-Malays
have been Iound in Pahang, Perak and the coast oI Selangor.
Early Malay kingdoms, namely Langkasuka (Kedah), Srivijaya (Palembang), and Majapahit
(Java) were in existence since the 9th century. But it the emergence oI the Malacca Sultanate in
the 14th century that is widely held to mark the begining oI the history oI Malaysia. The Islamic
empire oI the Malacca Sultanate covered the entire area oI Peninsular Malaysia and the eastern
coast oI Sumatra and Brunei. Malacca`s widespread Iame as a port Ior East-West trade caught
the eye oI European trader. The encroachment oI Western powers began with the Portuguese
conquest oI Malacca on 24 August, 1511; and later by the Dutch in 1641.
Following the Iall oI the Malacca Suttarate, new independent states emerged throughtout the
Peninsula, beginning with Johore in the mid-17th century; Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu in
the early 18th century; Kelantan in 1764; Selangor in 1766; Perlis in 1843; Pahang in 1881 and
Johore in 1885. By the end oI the 19th century, there were 9 Sultans in power.
The mid 18th century saw British intervention in the Malay Peninsula as Iree traders established
trade ties with the Malay Sultans. They eventually set up trading ports and took over Pulau
Pinang (1786) and Singapore (1819).
With the ratiIication oI the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1924, the British tightened their grip on the
Peninsula. They established the Straits Settlements in 1826; the Federated Malay States in 1896;
and acquired Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan Irom the Siamese through the Bangkok Agreement oI
1909. The states oI Johore and Terengganu were coerced to accept the services oI British
advisers in 1914 and 1919 respectively.

The British introduced an export-based economic system that superseded trading and selI-
suIIiciency. This eventually led to a large inIlux oI immigrant workers Irom China and India. By
the dawn oI the 20th century, the Ioundations had been laid Ior the present societal structure.
In February 1942, Japanese Iorces invaded and subsequently occupied the entire Peninsula.
Following the Japanese surrender on 14 August 1945, the return to British administration saw the
adaption oI new policies, and the Malayan Union arrangement was put in place oI the Federated
and UnIederated Malay States. The creation oI the Malayan Union reduced the status oI the
Malay rulers, which, coupled with the watering-down oI citizenship eligibility regulations,
translated into the loss oI Malay rights.
The Malays came out in Iorce to oppose the April 1946 Iormation oI the Malayan Union. Malay
associations came together to Iorm the nationalist United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO). The British were consequently compelled to abandon the Malayan Union and,
subsequently, the Federation oI Malaya comprising all the states oI the Peninsula was established
on 1 February 1948.

In 1955, Federal Elections were held to elect 52 members to the Federal Legislative Council.
EIIorts towards selI-government started in early 1956 via pre-independence conIerences in
London and the establishment oI the Suruhanjaya Bebas Perlembagaan (Independent
Constitutional Commission). Independence was achieved 31 August 1957.
In September 1963, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak combined with the Federation oI Malaya to
Iorm Malaysia. However, Singapore later broke away to become an independent state on 7
August 1965.