Malaysia

Malaysia.

The National flag of Malaysia.

Map of Malaysia.

My 1'st visit to Malaysia was in 1989, driving over from Singapore for a visit to Johor.

During my stay in Singapore, we made several trips up to Malaysia, mostly to visit the Islands off the East Coast of (West) Peninsular Malaysia. ( Among one of which provided the scenery for the movie "South Pacific")

As I later on came to stay in Malaysia, I have been many other places by now, all named on the map, but all located in West Malaysia. Therefor one of the places I would like to visit in future, is East Malaysia especially mount Kota Kinabalu.

As a place to live, Malaysia is quite easy to blend into, as there through history have been many "visitors" & people who have settled down here, thus Malaysia is today a multiracial society which could be a good school example, on how to tackle the issue of co-existence of different races in one country.

This does not mean Malaysia have a perfect solution, but in comparison with many others countries, Malaysia is doing very well in respect to this delicate issue, and I find it difficult to name any other country who doing it better.

Historic brief.

The ancient Malaya, are mentioned 1'st time in the 7'th century AC, where the southern part of today's West Malaysia joined the Buddhist Kingdom of Sri Vijaya on Sumatra Island.( Now part of Indonesia.)

In the 14'th century the Malay peninsular was split up by the Thais & Javanese, so the north half became part of Kingdom of Thailand and the south became part of the Javanese Kingdom. ( Now Indonesia.)

Islam arrived in the 15'th century, and several Islamic kingdoms arrived until 1511 where the Portuguese arrived and invaded a part of Malaya. The Islamic sultanates survived the Portuguese presence, and in 1611 the Dutch invaded the Portuguese processions, who now became part of Dutch East India.

In the 18'th century the British arrived, and founded George Town, on the Island of Penang, and in 1819 Singapore.

During the Napoleon war in Europe, the Dutch was outside completely, from Malaya, and in 1867 Britain declared the area as the British Crown colony "The Straits settlements", Singapore, Melacca & Penang.

Due to poor power by the sultans, the arrival of huge numbers of Chinese emigrants, the British intervened with military force and in 1896 the sultanates of Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan & Pahang was "convinced to join a Malayan federation. In 1909 Siam ( Thailand) was forced to hand over the some of the area obtained in the deal with the Javanese, the sultanates of Perlis, Kehda, Pahang & Trengganu.

The British made quick development of infrastructure, road system, health system, schools and not least the established plantations with rubberwood in large scale, to produce latex. A raw material for such new inventions as the automobile etc.

To work in the plantations the British imported a large number of South Indians, and Malaya suddenly had one more worker problem in addition to the Chinese.

In 1941 Malaya was invaded by the Japanese, who at first was received as liberators, but soon became even more despised than the British, due to their brutal occupation & exploitation of Malaya. After the 2'nd world war ended the British returned, but was received by a National feeling and Malaya became a Federation in 1948.

The Federation was still connected to Britain, and the British assisted the Federation to fight a communist uprise (mainly Chinese), which was only defeated in 1955. The Malay leader, Tunku Abdul Rahman united the none communist Chinese, the Malays and the Indians, and in 1957 the Federation became fully independent. (Today's peninsular Malaysia area.)

Singapore offered to join the Federation in 1963, but this was only accepted by the Malays on the condition that Saba & Sarawak also joined in. This affected heavy objections from Philippines & Indonesia, who both claimed these area's also.

The creation of this new state took place in late 1963, and the name was changed the Federation of Malaya to Malaysia.

Indonesia launched a war against Saba & Sarawak in 1964-1965, where Britain assisted Malaysia, the president of Indonesia was removed in a revolute, and in 1967, the dispute was closed to Malaysia favor.

However, Singapore had left peacefully in 1965, and declared itself a Republic.

In 1969 there was outbreak of unrest between the Malays & Chinese, leading to Marshall law until 1971.

Later there have been arrival of refugees from southern Philippines & Vietnam, who all have been returned by now, last Vietnamese in 1996.

The economic prosperity of Malaysia, have lead to stability & rapid development. Today Malaysia is a Power-house in South East Asia, in peaceful relations with all it's neighbors of ASEAN.

Some info on Malaysia, see here