Malaya

Malaya

1. Reasons for british intervention

   • Economic
     • Need for raw materials
       • Tin
         • >Canning industry was becoming very profitable in europe. >Discovery of large tin deposits in the malay states provided the british with opportunities for greater profits. >Extending control over these states will enmsure a steady supply of tin.
       • Rubber
         • >When the automobile industry began to grow, worldwide demand for rubber rose. >British had to take control over the interior of the malay peninsula as it became a major rubber producer for the world.
     • Need for new markets
       • >Needed new markets to sell mass-produce goods they had manufactured from british factories.
     • Need for new bases
       • >Opening of suez canal (1969) brought more europeans into asia faster. >Needed to secure more bases to strengthen foothold over trade in asia (especially against piracy in the straits of meleka.
   • Political
     • To build the british empire
       • >Because of the threat they faced from the other european powers. >British wanted to maintain a competitive edge over the european rivals (Dutch, Germans) by building an overseas empire.
   • Social
     • Need for social stability
       • British had to intervene to keep peace for trade.
         • Wars among tin miners.
           • The fiercest rivalry occurred between the Ghee Hins (mostly cantonese & Hokkiens) & the Hai sans (mostly hakkas) while working on tin mines of Larut in north perak.
         • Succession disputes
           • Caused tensions & conflicts that drove the state into chaos. (Eg. In perak, sultan ali died in 1871, there was no clear successor & 3 claimants fought to take the throne.
     • Desire of merchants, businessmen & local officials for british intervention
       • >They appealed to the british for intervention as they wanted law & order in order to carry out business in a stable & safe environment. (Eg. The 'man on the spot' in this case was Sir andrew clarke)

2. Responses

3. Impact