Malaysia

The Federation of Malaysia (Malay: Persekutuan Malaysia) or simply Malaysia (Simplified Chinese: ????; Pinyin: M?láix?y?, Tamil: ???????) is a country in Southeast Asia. It consists of two geographical regions divided by the South China Sea:

History

The Malay Peninsula developed as a major Southeast Asian commercial centre related to China. Ptolemy showed it on his early map with a label that translates as "Golden Chersonese", the Straits of Malacca as "Sinus Sabaricus".

Related Topics:
Malay Peninsula - Southeast Asia - Ptolemy

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The earliest recorded Malay kingdoms grew from coastal city-ports established in the 10th century AD. These include Langkasuka and Lembah Bujang in Kedah, as well as Beruas and Gangga Negara in Perak and Pan Pan in Kelantan. It is thought that originally these were Hindu or Buddhist nations. Islam arrived in the 14th century in Terengganu.

Related Topics:
10th century - Langkasuka - Lembah Bujang - Kedah - Beruas - Gangga Negara - Perak - Pan Pan - Kelantan - Islam - 14th century - Terengganu

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In the early part of the 15th century, the Sultanate of Malacca (Kesultanan Melaka) was established under a dynasty which was started by a prince by the name of Parameswara from Palembang who fled from the island Temasek (now known as Singapore). With Malacca as its capital, the sultanate controlled the areas which are now Peninsula Malaysia, southern Thailand (Patani), and the eastern coast of Sumatra. It existed for more than a century, and within that time period Islam spread to most of the Malay archipelago (Kepulauan Melayu). Malacca was an important trading port.

Related Topics:
15th century - Sultanate of Malacca - Malacca - Peninsula Malaysia - Thailand - Patani - Sumatra - Islam - Malay archipelago

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Portugal made Malacca a colony in 1511 by military conquest, thus ending the Sultanate of Malacca. The first Malacca sultan was Parameswara. However, the last Sultan fled to Kampar in Sumatra and died there. One of his sons went to northern peninsular Malaysia and established the Sultanate of Perak, and another son went to the south of the peninsula and made his capital there. This new kingdom was the continuation of the old Malacca sultanate but now known as the Sultanate of Johor, which still exists today. After the fall of Malacca, three nations struggled for the control of Malacca Strait: the Portuguese (in Malacca), the Sultanate of Johor, and the Sultanate of Aceh; and this conflict went on till 1641, when the Dutch (allied to the Sultanate of Johor) gained control of Malacca. The British took control of Malacca after the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.

Related Topics:
Portugal - 1511 - Sultanate of Malacca - Sultan - Sumatra - Malacca - Sultanate of Johor - Malacca Strait - Portuguese - Sultanate of Aceh - 1641 - Dutch - Anglo-Dutch Treaty - 1824

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The British Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements was established in 1826, and Britain gradually increased its control over the rest of the peninsula. The Straits Settlements consisted of the three ports of Singapore, Penang, and Malacca. Penang (Pearl of The Orient) was established in 1786 by Captain Francis Light as a commercial outpost granted by the Sultan of Kedah. Malacca came into British hands after the Anglo-Dutch Treaty; and two years later the Straits Settlements were formed. These settlements were collectively ruled from the British East India Company seat of government in Calcutta until 1867 when their administration was transferred to the Colonial Office in London.

Related Topics:
Crown Colony - Straits Settlements - 1826 - 1786 - Francis Light - British East India Company - 1867

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It was also about this time that many Malay states decided to obtain British help in settling their internal conflicts. Less than ten years after the transfer of power was completed with several west coast Malay States came under British influence. The role of the merchants of the Straits Settlements saw British government intervention in the affairs of the tin producing states in the Malay Peninsula. Coupled with Chinese Secret Society disturbances and civil war, British gunboat diplomacy was employed to bring about a peaceful resolution that favoured the merchants of the Straits Settlements. Finally, the Pangkor Treaty of 1874 paved the way for British expansion; and by the turn of the 20th century the states of Pahang, Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, known together as the Federated Malay States (not to be confused with the Federation of Malaya), were under the rule of British residents appointed to advise the rulers/Sultans.

Related Topics:
Gunboat diplomacy - Pangkor Treaty of 1874 - 20th century - Pahang - Selangor - Perak - Negeri Sembilan - Federated Malay States - Federation of Malaya - British - Sultans

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The other Peninsular states were known as the Unfederated Malay States and, while not directly under rule from London, had British advisors in the Sultans' courts. The four northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu were previously under Thai control. British North Borneo (currently the state of Sabah) was a British Crown Colony formerly under the rule of the Sultanate of Sulu, whilst the huge jungle territory of Sarawak was the personal fiefdom of the Brooke (White Rajah) family.

Related Topics:
Unfederated Malay States - Perlis - Kedah - Kelantan - Terengganu - Thai - Sabah - Crown Colony - Sarawak

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Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, popular support for independence grew, coupled with a communist insurgency. Post-war British plans to form a "Malayan Union" were scuppered by strong Malay opposition who wanted a more pro-Malay system, and demanding only single citizenship as opposed to the dual-citizenship option which would have allowed the significant immigrant communities to have claimed citizenship in both Malaya and their country of origin. Independence was achieved for the peninsula in August 31, 1957 under the name of the Federation of Malaya. (See Hari Merdeka.) Singapore's request to be part of this independent state was rejected by London at the time.

Related Topics:
Japanese - World War II - Communist insurgency - Malay - August 31 - 1957 - Hari Merdeka

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A new federation under the name of Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963 through a merging of the Federation of Malaya and the British crown colonies of Singapore, North Borneo (renamed Sabah), and Sarawak, the latter two colonies being on the island of Borneo. The Sultanate of Brunei, though initially expressing interest in joining the Federation, pulled out due to opposition from certain segments of the population as well as wrangling over the payment of oil royalties.

Related Topics:
September 16 - 1963 - Sabah - Sarawak - Borneo - Brunei

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The early years of independence were marred by conflict with Indonesia (Konfrantasi) over the formation of Malaysia, Singapore's eventual exit in 1965, and racial strife in the form of racial riots in 1969 (popularly known as Mei 13). The Philippines also made an active claim on Sabah in that period based upon the Sultanate of Brunei's cession of its north-east territories to the Sultanate of Sulu in 1704. The Philippine claim is still on-going.

Related Topics:
Conflict with Indonesia - 1965 - Racial riots - 1969 - Philippines - Sultanate of Sulu - 1704

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After the racial riots of 1969, the controversial New Economic Policy - intended to increase the share of the economic pie owned by the bumiputeras as opposed to other ethnic groups - was launched by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. Malaysia has since maintained a delicate ethno-political balance, and developed a unique rule combining economic growth and a political rule that favours bumiputras (a group including mostly ethnic Malays) and moderate Islam.

Related Topics:
Racial riots - New Economic Policy - Tun Abdul Razak - Bumiputra - Islam

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Between the 1980s and the early 1990s, Malaysia experienced significant economic growth under Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, the 4th prime minister of Malaysia. The period saw a shift from an agriculture-based economy to one based on manufacturing and industry in areas such as computers and consumer electronics. It was during this period too that the face of Malaysian landscape was changed dramatically with the emergence of mega projects that was to propel Malaysia worldwide. Noteably among these projects are the Petronas Twin Towers (once the tallest building in the world), KL International Airport (KLIA), The Sepang F1 Circuit, Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and Putrajaya (Malaysian Government's new administrative city).

Related Topics:
1980s - 1990s - Mahathir bin Mohamad

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In the late 1990s, Malaysia was shaken by the Asian financial crisis. Opposition to certain aspects of the existing system was put down by the government. The opposition runs the gamut from socialists and reformists to a party that advocates the creation of an Islamic state.

Related Topics:
1990s - Asian financial crisis - Socialists

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In 2003, Dr. Mahathir, Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, retired in favour of his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or fondly known as Pak Lah. The new government has advanced a moderate view of an Islamic state defined by the term Islam Hadhari.

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