Malayan Independence

Malayan Independence

The history of British involvement in Malaya goes back to 1786, when the East India Company established a trading post on Penang Island. Sir Stamford Raffles founded a British settlement on the island of Singapore in 1819 and by 1830 the British Straits Settlements also included Malacca. From the 1870s the sultans of the small Malay states began accepting British ‘advisers’, who were effectively rulers. In 1896 a federation of Negri Sembilan, Perak, Selangor and Pahang was established with its capital at Kuala Lumpur. Heavy immigration from China and India was encouraged to supply labour for British rubber plantations and tin mines.

Invading from the north, the Japanese rapidly overran Malaya and took Singapore in 1942. After the war, in 1948, a Federation of Malaya was created under British protection, but British and Commonwealth troops had to put down a Communist insurrection, which lasted into the early 1950s. It was by now agreed that Malayan independence was the answer to the Communist claim that they were fighting to free the Malayan people from the British yoke. An election in 1955 was won hands-down by the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) by running Malay candidates in Malay-dominated areas, Chinese candidates in Chinese areas and Indian candidates in Indian ones. The UMNO’s leader Tunku Abdul Rahman became prime minister when the independent Federation of Malaya came into being in 1957.

At a ceremony in the new Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Abdul Rahman proclaimed Malaya as ‘a sovereign, democratic and independent State founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations.’ He went on to say that Malaya had been ‘blessed with a good administration forged and tempered to perfection by by successive British administrators’ and called for Britain’s legacy not to be forgotten or spoiled in the future. A message from the Queen welcomed Malaya to the Commonwealth and numerous Commonwealth premiers sent goodwill wishes. The Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted in its place, while elsewhere in the country there were fireworks, bonfires, dances and concerts.

The federation was renamed Malaysia in 1963, when besides Singapore and all the Malay states it also included two areas in North Borneo – Sarawak and Sabah. Singapore opted out and went its own way in 1965.

- See more at: http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/malayan-independence#sthash.YuFNyAlV.dpuf

My comments:

The Federation of Malaysia is made up of the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah.  So, Najib is the prime minster of the Federation of Malaya.   To position himself as the PM of Malaysia is very much against the constitution of the Federation of Malaysia.  The acts of supremacy over Sarawak and Sabah, "auch!!!!" are the shameless behaviour of the autocrat.  The UMNO and Najib know no shame. 

I hope more and more Sarawakians and Sabahans are aware of our position and relationship in the Federation of Malaysia.  The 11 states in Peninsula Malaya are in an entity of the Federation of Malaya.  Non of the states can claim to be in the Federation of Malaysia, can you?  Prove me wrong.   For Sarawak and Sabah, we can opt out the Federation of Malaysia.  But if any state in Peninsula Malaysia, if you want to opt out , you are opting out form the Federation of Malaya, not Malaysia.  Prove me if you can.  Facts stand out to all forms of argument.  (事实胜于强辩)。

History was not the subject I liked.   But now I must try my very best to find out the history of Malaya Peninsula and the Federation of Malaysia to ensure that there is no mixed up hoping to undo the messed up by the UMNO political thugs on purpose.