Malayan Union

The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay Peninsula and predecessor of the Federation of Malaya and Malaysia. It was established in 1946 by the British as the Malay States Federation ( Federated Malay States and Unfederated Malay States) and the Straits Settlements excluding Singapore founded. While the Malay states were protectorates in the Union, Penang and Malacca remained British Crown Colonies.

Foundation

The intention to establish a Malayan Union was voiced by the British for the first time in October 1945. That same month, Sir Harold MacMichael was commissioned to obtain the approval of the rulers of the Malay states. After a short time all the sultans had signed after they were intimidated.

On 1 April 1946, the Malayan Union was officially established. Sir Edward Gent was their first governor and Kuala Lumpur, the capital.

Resistance

The Malays were from the beginning against the Malayan Union. Just one month after the establishment of the Union UMNO was founded, in which the resistance was formed.

The resistance of the Malays had three main reasons:

• The manner in which MacMichael reached the signatures of the Sultans
• The erosion of the power of the Sultans The traditional ruler of Mallaiischen States had almost all the powers of the British Crown left, with the exception of cultural and religious affairs. The sultans were henceforth called President. The entire Union was ruled by a British governor.
• The generous granting of citizenship In the Malayan Union jus soli was. All citizens equal rights were promised, regardless of the ethnicity. The Malays criticized it especially that Chinese who had immigrated only recently were able to obtain citizenship of Malaya. The Chinese but were considered a threat to the economic development of Malaysia due to its dominant position in the economy.

Resolution

The British finally gave in to pressure from the Malays. The Malayan Union was dissolved on January 31, 1948 and replaced by the Federation of Malaya in which strengthened the role of the Malays in society and naturalizations were difficult.

The Federation of Malaya was later a part of the Federation of Malaysia.