Malaysia Tourist Guides — History

It is believed that the earliest settlers on the Malay Peninsula originated from Southern China, traveling in small groups over thousands of years. These early inhabitants eventually became the ancestors of the Orang Asli (Aboriginal Malays).

Around 1400 A.D., a Sumatran prince called Paramesvara, led a group of Malay speaking migrants to the Malay Peninsula, and established a highly successful commercial kingdom called Malacca.

Golden Age of Melaka (1400-1511)
Melaka or Malacca saw rapid rise and soon became a wealthy kingdom, well known internationally as spice trading center. Mid 1400, witnessed Melaka becoming a Muslim kingdom. By late 1400, Melaka asserted its power over most of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and the important shipping route through the Strait of Malacca. Soon, the Europeans were attracted to Melaka and its valuable spice trade. The bid for colonial control of the Malaya Peninsula began in 1511, with the Portuguese gaining power of Melaka from the Malays.

Colonialism (1511-1957)
With defeat at the hands of the Portuguese in 1511, the Malays shifted their base from Malacca to Johor at the southern part of the Malay Peninsula. Elsewhere on the Peninsula, smaller kingdoms were established by descendants of Melaka rulers. The Portuguese lost their fort at Malacca in 1641 to the Dutch. The Dutch had almost exclusive control over Malacca.s spice trade for the next 150 years.

The British Rule
The British occupation began in 1786, with the acquisition of Penang Island and establishment of a settlement called George Town, a thriving port. In order to protect its shipping lines between China and India, Britain gained more control over Malaya Peninsula over a period of time. In 1824, the Dutch exited the Malay Peninsula by surrendering all their possessions to the British. By 1914, .British Malaya. was fully established with either direct or indirect colonial control over all the area that now makes up modern day Malaysia.

Britain increased commercial enterprises in British Malaya by expanding tin mining, introducing rubber plantations in late 1800 and early 1900. Labors from China and India were bought for these enterprises. The British encouraged the Malays to do farming in order to feed the burgeoning workforce.

Independence from the British
The Japanese invasion of Malaya in 1941 saw the end of British authority. Japanese occupation of British Malaya lasted till the end of World War II in 1945.

Malayan nationalism, which opposed colonial bindings, gained momentum after the war.

The United Malaya National Organization (UMNO) was formed in 1946. Again in 1948, the Malayan Communist Party was formed and began its guerrilla uprising against British presence, which was known as the Emergency. In 1960, the British finally managed to suppress the Emergency with Malay assistance.

In parliamentary elections of 1955, the anticommunist, anti-colonial coalition of Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and UMNO, won an overwhelming majority. In 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained complete independence from British rule. Singapore, with a predominantly Chinese population, remained outside the federation as a British crown colony. Peninsular Malaysia was re-christened as Malaya in 1957, with Tunku Abdul Rahman as its first prime minister.

Birth of Malaysia
In 1961, Tunku convinced Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak to join Malaya in a federal union and the name .Malaysia. was born. Through the 1960s, an economic and political dispute between the vastly ethnically diverse population of Malay and Singapore, which was predominantly Chinese, was in prominence. In 1965, Singapore withdrew from the federation and became an independent state.

Malaysia with its multi-racial mix of population witnessed racial resentment between the Malays, who controlled government and agriculture whilst the Chinese, excelled in commerce and industry. In 1969, the tensions culminated in the worst ever bloody racial violence. A state of emergency was in force till 1971.

In the after riot period, Malaysian political leaders worked towards building national unity amongst the country.s diverse ethnic groups and improve the economy. A 20-year New Economic Policy was unveiled in 1971 and by 1974 a multi party alliance called the National Front came into existence uniting the diverse populace. Over the next two decades, the country saw great economic growth coupled with favorable race relations.

The New Millennium in 1990
By the end of the 1990, racial tensions were a vastly minimized, with economic prosperity for all racial groups in the country. The government now unveiled a new goal called 'Vision 2020' which aimed to make Malaysia a fully developed nation by 2020. The economic crisis sweeping throughout Southeast Asia in the late 1990s slowed down growth, but Malaysia took quick action to put its economy on the rails again.

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