HISTORY AND HISTORICAL FACTS OF MALAYSIA
About 10.000 years ago, the Orang Asli (comparable to Malay Aboriginals) left from southwest China to the peninsula we now call West-Malaysia. Until 1405 the following superpowers reigned over the peninsula; the Funan (Cambodia), the Srivijaya (Sumatra) and the Majapahit (Java). From 1405 onwards the Chinese influence in this area grew. In this period the Islamic way of thinking also set in when Arabic traders arrived. In a short period of time many people converted to this religion. From 1500 on the trade in Southeast Asia increased enormously. The European superpowers of that time acquired interest in the local resources, the era of trade over sea had started and Malaysia would play a big part in it.
Malaysia under British ruling
The Portuguese were the first to occupy Malacca (partly due to its perfect location). During the VOC-era (later the Dutch East Indies era) the Dutch seized power in Malacca in 1641. At first, the British didn't put much effort into Malacca, and established themselves on the island Penang (1786). Only until 1795 the British took over command of the Dutch in Malacca, who started focusing more on trade all around Indonesia. It is said the Dutch traded 'Malaysia' for 'Indonesia'. The British Crown Colony (also referred to as the Straits Settlements) was established in 1826 and slowly but certain, the British increased their power over the rest of the peninsula. At first, it was primarily spices taken from the present Malaysia. But when in the early 19th century tin supplies were discovered, the trade shifted rapidly.
The British first colonized the peninsula and after that, between 1840 an 1882, also annexated east-Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) into the British Crown Colony. In this period, the British also invited many Indian people to Malaysia, to fill up the shortage of workers. After the Japanese occupation during World War II, the strive for independence grew among Malay people, this lead to a communist insurrection (1948-1960); 'The Emergency'. In 1948 the Federation of Malaya was founded. The Federation consisted of 11 states; nine Malay states and the British settlements of Penang and Malacca.
Federation of Malaysia
In 1957 the British surrendered their sovereignty over Malaysia and the peninsula became independent that year with the name 'Federation of Malaysia'. A new federation with the name Malaysia was established on September 16th 1963 by the unity of Malaysia, Singapore and the east-Malaysian states Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of Borneo. Directly after this, the Filipinos and Indonesia broke all their diplomatic relations, because they believed that some of these parts belonged to them. Indonesia started with the konfrontasi (confrontation); fishing-boats in front of Sarawak's coast were brought to sink and above Sabah the roaring of airplanes could be heard. But after Soekarnos disposal in 1966, the government made a treaty of peace with Malaysia and after that the Filipinos dropped their territory claims on Sabah too (though up to this day there is still an interest in the northern parts of Sabah).
In 1965 Singapore separated from the federation and became an independent state. The sultan of the oil state Brunei (located between the federal states Sabah and Sarawak), already made clear in the past that they opposed to any kind of unity with Malaysia.
The anti-government rallies of 2007
After the declaration of independence in 1957 Malaysia has developed itself quickly. With the 'Vision 2020' strategy carried out by former premier Mahathir, Malaysia jumps ahead as a economically and technologically well developed country. Last couples of years have been dominated by political disturbances. Two unauthorized anti-government rallies shook Malaysia's fundaments in November 2007. The first rally was organized to protest over corruption in the Malaysian electoral system. The second rally was organized by the Hindu Rights Action Force, to protest over discrimination against non-ethnic Malays (mainly Indian immigrants). Both rallies were condemned by the government and were put down fierce by the police. However, these rallies were the start of more political shifts.
