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The "Unfederated Malay States" (Malay: Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu; Jawi: نݢري٢ ملايو تيدق برسکوتو) was the collective name given to five British protected states in the Malay Peninsula during the first half of the 20th century. These states were Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu. In contrast with the four adjoining Federated Malay States of Selangor, Perak, Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan, the five Unfederated Malay States lacked common institutions, and did not form a single state in international law; they were in fact standalone British protectorates.
Unfederated Malay States Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu (Malay) | |
|---|---|
| 1909–1942 1942–1945 (Japanese occupation) 1945–1946 | |
 Malaya in 1922:
Unfederated Malay States
Federated Malay States
Straits Settlements | |
| Status | Federal protectorate of the British Empire |
| Common languages | Malay English |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Membership | |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy |
| Monarch | |
• 1909–1910 (first) | Edward VII |
• 1936–1942; 1945–1946 (last) | George VI |
| Historical era | British Empire |
| 9 July 1909 | |
| 15 February 1942 – 2 September 1945 | |
| 2 September 1945 | |
| 1 April 1946 | |
| Currency | Straits dollar (1909–1939) Malayan dollar (1939–1942; 1945–1946) |
| Today part of | Malaysia |
In 1946, the British colony of the Straits Settlements was dissolved. Penang and Malacca, which had formed a part of the Straits Settlements, were then grouped with the Unfederated Malay States and the Federated Malay States to form the Malayan Union. In 1948, the Malayan Union was reconstituted as a federation of eleven states known as the Federation of Malaya. Nine of the states of the new Federation of Malaya continued as British protected states, while two of them, Penang and Malacca, remained as British colonies. The Federation of Malaya gained full independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1957.
History
editJohor 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).
Under the Bangkok Treaty of 1909, Siam transferred its rights over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis to the United Kingdom.[1] 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.
Administration and language
editThe 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).
References
edit- ^ John Haywood (2002). Historical Atlas of the 19th Century World 1783 – 1914. Barnes and Noble. p. 22. ISBN 0-7607-3203-5.