BRITISH INTERVENTION
BRITISH INTERVENTION IN THE MALAY STATES
BRITISH INTERVENTION IN THE MALAY STATES
the policy of non-intervention
reasons for the change to a policy of intervention
case study : British intervention in Perak 1874
the Pangkor Engagement
Policy of Non-Intervention
EIC was a trading company; only wanted to make great profits through peaceful trading
Did not want to interfere in local politics which might embroil them in war and unnecessary expenditure
EIC busy developing its possessions in India
Abolition of trade monopoly in 1834 brought other European traders into the area; reduced the company’s profits
Policy of Intervention
Increase in demand for tin & other raw materials
Need for markets to buy British goods
Need for new fields of investment
Anarchy in the Malay states
Change in British policy of non-intervention
Opening of the Suez Canal & increased European interest in the East
Fear of European rivals
1. Increase in demand for tin & other raw materials
Industrial Revolution
Development of the tin-canning industry
Malay states were very rich in tin
To ensure supply of tin, Britain need to extend their control over the Malay states
2. Need for new markets to buy British goods
Industrial Revolution and large-scale production
New territories would become new markets for British goods
3. Need for new fields of investment
Lost of EIC monopoly of the China trade
Straits merchant lost much there & looked elsewhere to invest
Malay states ideal because of agricultural & mineral wealth potential
Wanted British govt intervention in these states to bring about law & order so that they can invest safely in the tin mines & plantations
4. Anarchy in the Malay States
Causes
- 1. Succession disputes
- rival claimants to the throne
- 2. Wars between secret societies
- fighting for control of tin mines
- 3. Piracy off the coast affected trade
- Investors in the tin-mining states appealed to British govt for protection
5. Change in British Policy of Non-intervention
1. Value of British investment in the Malay states
British interest in Malay states needed protection to prosper
Estimated that trade in Malaya about £3 million a year and it was largely British capital that finance this trade
Thus the British government was prepared to consider a new policy
2. Change in British attitude
Lord Kimberley appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1870
Belonged to a new breed of British politicians
Believed Britain had a responsibility to spread the benefits of its rule worldwide
1873 : Sir Andrew Clarke appointed as Governor of the Straits Settlements
“whether any steps can be taken to promote the restoration of peace and order to secure protection to trade and commerce”
“it would be advisable to appoint a British officer to reside in any of the states”
Led to the introduction of British Residents in Malaya
Change in British Policy of Non-intervention
3. Change of government in Britain in 1873
Conservative Party ; Benjamin Disraeli
favoured imperialism to boost British prestige
“Forward Policy” - extend British control over more colonies overseas
4. Suez Canal & European Interest in the East
Trade increased between East & West increased with the opening of the Suez Canal
Trade passed through friendly or occupied areas except Malaya; route could be threatened
Britain-Gibraltar-Malta-Aden-India-Burma-Straits of Malacca-Hong Kong-China
Straits of Malacca became more important
Strong possibility and growing fear that other European powers would want to make Malaya their colony
5. Fear of European rivals
France
spreading control in Indo-china
Holland
expanding into Indonesia
Spain
established in the Philippines
6. Fear of European rivals
Russia
looking for new colonies
Germany
after reunification in 1871, desperately looking for colonies in the East
Rumours
Germany negotiating bases in P Langkawi and northern Malay
many German business companies in S’pore
CASE STUDY :
British Intervention in Perak 1874
Discovery of tin in Larut
The First Larut War 1861
The Second Larut War 1865
The Third Larut War 1872
The Perak Succession Dispute
The Fourth Larut War 1873
Raja Abdullah’s Letter to the Governor
PERAK in the 1860s
many internal troubles
succession quarrels in the Perak royal house
wars among Chinese tin miners in Larut
disruption by piracy
PERAK : THE SILVER STATE
Perak, known as the "Silver State", (perak means silver)Used to be one of the richest states in Malaysia.
The state capital is Ipoh which became known as "The City of Millionaires" when many miners made their fortunes in the nearby tin mines around a hundred years ago.
Perak was one of Malaysia’s wealthiest states until the world-wide recession in the late Eighties took its toll on the state.
The collapse of the world's tin industry (Perak’s main source of revenue) led to tin prices falling sharply, forcing mines to be closed
LARUT
Maxwell Hill or Bukit Larut is Malaysia's oldest and smallest hill resort
Located 9 km from Taiping in Perak
Blessed with a cool temperature and beautiful natural surroundings
Discovery of Tin in Larut
1848 : Long Jaafar discovered rich deposits of tin in Larut
He invited Chinese miners from Penang to work the mines in Larut
Tin mining very successful - Sultan made Long Jaafar the Chief of Larut
Succeeded by his son Ngah Ibrahim in 1857
Secret Societies in Larut
Hai Sun Secret Society
mostly Hakkas occupyong an area in Taiping
Ghee Hin Secret Society
mostly Cantonese; finding the best mines in Taiping occupied, they moved to Kamunting
Initially contented with their own mining operations, they were soon overcome with greed and jealousy
Fought over mining claims and control of water courses so necessary for tin mining
The First Larut War 1861
First open clash in July 1861 over the control of a water course
The First Larut War ended with Ngah Ibrahim becoming the richest and most powerful chief in Perak
The Second Larut War 1865
Both sides were unhappy and required a small incident to spark off another clash
this time, it was over a gambling quarrel
involved other Chinese and Malay secret societies
Both sides forced to come to terms only because they were exhausted
a temporary period of calm followed
The Third Larut War 1872
The third war was the result of a scandal between the Ghee Hin leader and the wife of a relative of the Hai San leader
It was at this time that Raja Abdullah took the side of the Ghee Hins
Raja Abdullah was a claimant to the throne of Perak and an enemy of Ngah Ibrahim
The war between Chinese miners was now a civil war involving Malay chiefs of Perak
The Perak Succession Dispute
From 1871, there was dispute over who the Sultan should be
3 candidates : Raja Yusof, Raja Ismail & Raja Abdullah
Each had his own power base and supporters who would not accept either of the other candidates
When Raja Ismail succeeded in making himself Sultan, Raja Abdullah refused to accept this
Sided with the Ghee Hins as we have seen to gain their support
The Fourth Larut War 1873
Counterattack by Ghee Hin
Situation in Perak became chaotic
Malay chiefs embroiled in the war were alarmed at the disorder created by the secret societies
Straits merchants complaints to Sir Harry Ord fell on deaf ears; policy of non-intervention
Sir Andrew Clarke, new Governor of the Straits Settlements soon launched a policy of intervention
Raja Abdullah’s Letter to the Governor
30 Dec 1873 - Raja Abdullah wrote a letter to Sir Andrew Clarke asking for “a man of sufficient abilities to …… show us a good system of government”
William Pickering (The Chinese Protector)was sent to Larut to persuade the warring Chinese to accept British arbitration
Frank Swettenham (later Resident of Selangor and Perak) was sent to invite Malay chiefs to a meeting at Pulau Pangkor
THE PANGKOR ENGAGEMENT
Terms of the Pangkor Engagement
Consequences of the Pangkor Engagement
The Chinese Engagement
The Chinese leaders agreed to British arbitration, to disarm their warboats and to sign a written agreement
The Chinese Engagement was signed on board the ship Pluto
Terms of the Pangkor Engagement
Raja Abdullah was recognized as Sultan of Perak
Raja Ismail was given the title of Sultan Muda, a monthly pension of $1,000 and a small territory assigned to him
Ngah Ibrahim remained Mentri of Larut but not as an independent ruler
Asst Resident to advise him on admin of Larut
Terms of the Pangkor Engagement
British Resident
Sultan Abdullah was to accept a British Resident who was paid by the Sultan
His advice must be asked and accepted on all matters of administration
Exception : those concerning Malay customs, traditions and religion
The Resident was to be given a place of residence by the Sultan
Revenue
- Malay chiefs lost the right to collect revenue
- Resident now in charge of collection and control of all revenues
- Malay chiefs no longer allowed to collect taxes
- Would be given pensions instead
Consequences of the Pangkor Engagement
1. The Chinese Engagement
resulted in a satisfactory division of the tinfields
Leaders of both sides agreed to keep peace
Accept decisions of the govt commission set up to settle disputes between the two parties
To the Chinese, this was a satisfactory arrangement
Tired of warfare and wanted to settle down to business of mining tin
2. The Malay Chiefs
The signing of the Pangkor Engagement was carried out too quickly for them to realise the full implications of the treaty
They did not realize it meant a loss of power as Sultan Abdullah must act on the advice of the Resident
Even Abdullah himself was mistaken that he could take advice only if he wished to
Did not fully understand the terms of the treaty; difficulty of translation
Comparison of terms of the Pangkor Engagement
Article VI (Eng Version)
That the Sultan receive and provide a suitable residence for a British Officer to be called Resident, who shall be accredited to his Court and whose advice must be asked and acted upon on all questions other than those touching Malay Religion and Custom.
Article VI (translated Malay Version)
That the Sultan receive and provide a suitable residential house for one officer….. whose title shall be British Resident. The Sultan of Perak shall have to consult with him on all matters and the working of Perak State except that he cannot interfere with Muslim religious affairs and Malay Custom
The treaty created two Sultans of Perak
Ismail refused to accept the title of Sulatan Muda or the pension
Ngah Ibrahim
Clarked ignored the fact that Ngah Inbrahim was recognized as the independent ruler of Larut by Ord.
Cpt Speedy was now Asst Resident
3. Sir Andrew Clarke
exceeded his instructions and authority
He claimed this was necessary to maintain peace and protect British interests
He was not reprimanded because he had strong support from new government in England, the Secretary of State for Colonies and the business community of the Straits Settlements
Importance of the Pangkor Engagement
The agreement was a historic one which marked the beginning of the Residential System in Malaya
The Residential System was one of indirect rule
The Sultan remained Head of State, but he must accept the advice of the British Resident in all matters of administration and government
Extended to the states of Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Pahang