British Intervention in Malaya in 1874

• Why were the British interested in to trade in the East?

  1. Industrial revolution
  2. Their tea trade with China (China has a strong demand for products in Borneo)
• The Dutch had colonized the spice trade in the Moluccas and secured bases in the East Indies.
• Sir Stamford Raffles were sent to look for a base in the East.

  -> he reached Singapore in 1819.
• Singapore was originally under the Dutch Johore Empire.
• In Singapore, there was a power struggle between the sons of the late Sultan of Johore, Tengku Abdul Rahman and Tengku Hussein.
• Raffles gave his support to Tengku Hussein. He proclaimed him the rightful Sultan of Johore, in return the British was allowed to set up a trading base in Singapore.
• The Straits Settlements was formed in 1926.
• The Straits Settlements comprised of Penang, Malacca and Singapore.
• The Straits Settlements was ruled by the British East India Company based in India.
• Straits Settlements was made a British Crown Colony in 1867.

  Which means it was ruled directly by the Colonial Office in London
• Why did British change it's policy from non-intervention to intervention?

  1. A change in ruling government in 1873. (Conservative Party)
  2. British feared other Western intervention. (Germany & France) -> the accessibility of Malaya due to the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
  3. Problems and disputes in Malaya. (Among Chinese miners, succession disputes, pirate attacks)
• In 1871, the Sultan of Perak died and a succession dispute arose between Raja Ismail, Raja Abdullah and Raja Yusof.
• There were wars at Larut during the same time of the Perak succession dispute, between Ghee Hin and Hai san (Chinese secret societies)
• Ghee Hin sided with Raja Abdullah. Hai San and Ngah Ibrahim (Chief of Larut) supported Raja Ismail.
• Raja Abdullah sent a letter to the Governor of Straits Settlements, Sir Andrew Clarke to request British intervention in Perak in December 1873.
• Sir Andrew Clarke suggested a meeting at Pangkor Island in 1874.

  The goal of the Pangkor Engagement was to negotiate and find solutions to the Perak succession dispute and stop the Larut wars between Chinese miners.
• The results of the Pangkor Engagement:

  1. Raja Abdullah as Sultan of Perak
  2. Raja Ismail as Raja Muda +given pension and small district
  3. Sultan would accept British resident and provide residence for officer
  4. Payment of salary to Resident from revenue of Perak
  5. Chinese secret societies stopped fighting
  6. Ngah Ibrahim remained Chief of Larut