Unfederated Malay States

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.

Not to be confused with Federated Malay States.

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	Johor Kedah Kelantan  Perlis  Terengganu
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Monarch
• 1909–1910 (first)	Edward VII
• 1936–1942; 1945–1946 (last)	George VI
Historical era	British Empire
• Anglo-Siamese Treaty	9 July 1909
• Japanese occupation	15 February 1942 – 2 September 1945
• Japanese surrender	2 September 1945
• Malayan Union	1 April 1946
Currency	Straits dollar (1909–1939) Malayan dollar (1939–1942; 1945–1946)
Preceded by Succeeded by 1885: Johore 1909: Kedah Kelantan Perlis Terengganu Rattanakosin Kingdom 1941-42: Japanese occupation of Malaya 1943: Si Rat Malai 1945: British Military Administration (Malaya) 1946: Malayan Union
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

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).

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

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).

Evolution of Malaysia

References

1. John Haywood (2002). Historical Atlas of the 19th Century World 1783 – 1914. Barnes and Noble. p. 22. ISBN 0-7607-3203-5.