malaysian studies

1. 14 DAYS TRAGEDY & MALAYAN UNION

2. 14 DAYS TRAGEDY
 Japanese surrender soon after Hiroshima and Nagasaki
get bombed,
 Some MPAJA took advantage to terrorize and take
revenge on the Malays who suspected cooperated with
Japanese.

3. 14 DAYS TRAGEDY
 Chaotic situation happened in
 Batu Pahat-Muar
 Sg Manik – Teluk Anson
 etc
 The bloody conflict between the Chinese and the
Malays lasted two weeks until the British established
the British Military Administration.

4. MALAYAN UNION (KESATUAN
MALAYA)
 After 14 days, the British came back to Malaya and
introduced temporary military government or BMA
(British Military Administration).
 Control back offices and stations
 Some MPAJA surrender back weapons some escape to
jungle
 On 1st April 1946, the British replaced BMA with the
Malayan Union.

5. Why British Introduced Malayan
Union?
 Need more revenue to cover cost of WW2
 To attract investor to rebuild back British economy
in Malaya
 To combine all scattered administration into one.
 to assist administration and saved expenditure.
 To enforce defence
 boost economic recovery
 To prepare for the locals for own government

6. FEATURES OF THE MALAYAN UNION
 Except for Singapore, all Malayan States were united
under one central government
 Rulers’ sovereignty would be abolished - they would
only have the authority in Islamic affairs and
customs.
 State would be under British High Commisioner.
 A British Governor would be appointed as Malayan
Union’s Head

7. FEATURES OF THE MALAYAN UNION
 All races would be given equal rights – Jus Soli Principle
- Malayan citizenship was obtained if
(a) the foreigner was 18 and above and had resided in
Malaya for 10 out 15 years before 15 February 1942.
(b) a person who born in Malaya after the forming of the
Malayan Union.
 Equal rights for all citizens regardless of race or origin.

8. Opposition against the Malayan Union
Malays oppose:
 Mac Michael’s used intimidation to get Malay Rulers
approval
 Loss of Rulers’ powers
 Effects on the position of the Malays
A group of former British officers like Frank Swettenham, R.O
Winsted, Frederick Weld, Cecil Clementi opposed

9. UPRISE AGAINST THE MALAYAN UNION
 The Malays were not ready to accept radical changes that would
affect their position.
 Dato’ Onn lead the Malays against the Malayan Union and instilled
national spirit among them.
 established “Pergerakan Melayu Semenanjung” (Peninsular Malay
Movement) in January 1946 to defend the rights of the Malays.
 He chaired the Pan-Malayan Malay Congress meeting on 29th and
30th March 1946 in Kuala Lumpur.
 established the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)

10. UPRISE AGAINST THE MALAYAN UNION
 Through this congress the Malays was advised to boycott the
Malayan Union and unite to stage demonstrations on 1st April
1946.
 The Malay rulers were advised not to attend the appointment
ceremony of Edward Gent as the first Governor of the Malayan
Union.
 The British government ignored all protests and Malayan Union
was proclaimed on 1 April 1946.
 Edward Gent became the Governor of the Malayan Union.

11. THE FAILURE OF MALAYAN UNION
 Strong oppositions from Malays made L.D Gamman and
David Rees to observe the rise of peoples against Malayan
Union in Major towns in Malaya.
 Abolished Malayan Union with establishment of
Federation of Malaya 1948
 British finally favoured to Malays demand

12. THANK YOU