Unfederated Malay States

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Distinguish Template:Infobox former country Template:History of Malaysia The Unfederated Malay States (Template:Langx; Jawi: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) was the collective term for five distinct British protected states situated in the Malay Peninsula during the early to mid-twentieth century. These states were Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu. In contrast to the neighbouring Federated Malay States comprising Selangor, Perak, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan, the Unfederated Malay States did not share a unified administration or common institutions. Though they were nominally independent, each of them functioned as an individual protectorate under British oversight and were not recognised as a single entity in international law.<ref name="Gullick">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Thio">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Following the conclusion of World War II, the British crown colony known as the Straits Settlements was formally de jure dissolved in 1946 (having been rendered de facto defunct with the Japanese occupation of Malaya and the Fall of Singapore in 1942).<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/> Penang and Malacca were subsequently combined with both the Unfederated and Federated Malay States to form the Malayan Union.<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/> Singapore was administratively separated and established as a standalone crown colony directly governed by the United Kingdom, independent of any Malayan political framework.<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/>

In response to widespread local opposition, the Malayan Union was restructured in 1948 into the Federation of Malaya, comprising eleven states.<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/> Of these, nine continued as British protected states, while Penang and Malacca remained crown colonies.<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/> The Federation of Malaya achieved full independence on 31 August 1957 and was later transformed into Malaysia on 16 September 1963 through the inclusion of Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore. Singapore was ultimately separated once more from Malaysia and became a sovereign state on 9 August 1965.<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/>

History

Johor accepted a treaty of protection with the United Kingdom in 1885, and eventually succumbed to British pressure to accept a resident "Advisor" in 1914. Unlike the other Malay states under British protection, however, Johor remained outside of the Federated Malay States (formed in 1895).<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/>

Under the Bangkok Treaty of 1909, Siam transferred its rights over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis to the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> These states then became British protected states. With the assistance of Japan, they temporarily returned to Thai jurisdiction for the latter part of World War II but was returned to Britain after the defeat and surrender of the Axis powers.<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/>

Administration and language

The chief officer of the British colonial administration was the "Advisor". In contrast with the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States enjoyed greater autonomy. The de facto official language of the Unfederated Malay States was Malay (written with the Jawi script).<ref name="Gullick"/><ref name="Thio"/>

File:Malaysia tree diagram.svg

Evolution of Malaysia