Federated Malay States

1:2. Flag of the Federated Malay States (1895–1946)

The Federated Malay States had a flag of its own until its dissolution in 1946. The flag consisted of four different-coloured stripes, from top to bottom: white, red, yellow and black. Different combinations of these colours represent the four states that formed the FMS — red, black and yellow are for Negeri Sembilan; black and white for Pahang; black, white and yellow for Perak; and red and yellow for Selangor. The same design concept is used in Malaysian national emblem. In the middle is an oblong circle with a Malayan tiger in it.

The National History Museum located near the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has a replica of the federation's flag.

The coat of arms of the Federated Malay States featured a shield guarded by two tigers. On the top of the shield is the crown (known as Eastern Crown in English heraldry), symbolising the federation of monarchies under the protection of the United Kingdom. A banner with the phrase "Dipelihara Allah" (Under God's (Allah) Protection) written in Jawi is located underneath the shield.

The combinations of the four colours of the shield represents the colours of the flags of the states of the FMS in the same way the stripes of the FMS flag do.

1. Red and yellow for Selangor
2. Black, white and yellow for Perak
3. Red, black and yellow for Negeri Sembilan
4. Black and white for Pahang

This design forms the basis of the Federation of Malaya's national emblem along with the guardian tigers and a quartered shield of the same, symbolic four colours mentioned above.

The phrase "Dipelihara Allah" was also adopted as the current state motto for the state of Selangor.

Naval ensign of the Federated Malay States (1895–1946)

In addition to a state flag, the Federated Malay States also had a naval jack or ensign for use on government ships. The ensign, with the four colours of the FMS, was flown by HMS Malaya, commanded by Captain Boyle under the 5th Battle Squadron of the British Grand Fleet) during the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea. This was the largest and the only full-scale clash of battleships during World War I.

From 1896 to 1936, real power lay in the hands of the Resident-General, later known as Chief Secretary of the Federation.

After 1936 the Federal Secretaries were no more than co-ordinating officers, under the authority of the High Commissioners, which are always the Governors of the Straits Settlements

In the Federated Malay States, the individual State were still ruled by the Sultan but was now advised by the State Council for the purpose of administrating the State. The State Council was made up of the Resident (or in certain cases by the Secretary to the Resident), native chiefs, and representative(s) of the Chinese community nominated by the Sultan. The council discussed matters of interest for each respective state such as legislative and administrative issues as well as revision of all sentence of capital punishment. The Resident and his staff (mostly consist of European and Malay) carried on with the administrative work.

• 1875 – 1876 James Guthrie Davidson
• 1876 – 1882 William Bloomfield Douglas (born 1822 – died 1906)
• 1882 – 1884 Frank Athelstane Swettenham (born 1850 – died 1946)
• 1884 – 1888 John Pickersgill Rodger (1st time) (acting) (born 1851 – died 1910)
• 1889 – 1892 William Edward Maxwell (born 1846 – died 1897)
• 1892 – 1896 William Hood Treacher (born 1849 – died 1919)
• 1896 – 1902 John Pickersgill Rodger (2nd time) (s.a.)
• 1902 – 1910 Henry Conway Belfield (born 1855 – died 1923)
• 1910 – 1913 Reginald George Watson (born 1862 – died 1926)
• 1913 – 1919 Edward George Broadrick (born 1864 – died 1929)
• 1919 – 1921 Arthur Henry Lemon (born 1864 – died 1933)
• 1921 – 1926 Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor (born 1872 – died 1940)
• 1926 – 1927 Henry Wagstaffe Thomson (born 1874 – died 1941)
• 1927 – 1931 James Lornie (born 1876 – died 1959)
• 1932 – 1933 G. E. Cater
• 1933 – 1935 George Ernest London (born 1889 – died 1957)
• 1935 – 1937 Theodore Samuel Adams (born 1885 – died 1961)
• 1937 – 1939 Stanley Wilson Jones (born 1888 – died 1962)
• 1939 – 1941 G. M. Kidd
• 1941 Norman Rowlstone Jarrett (acting) (born 1889 – died 1982)

• 1874 – 1875 James Wheeler Woodford Birch (born 1826 – died 1875)
• 1876 – 1877 James Guthrie Davidson
• 1877 – 1889 Hugh Low (from 1883, Sir Hugh Low) (born 1824 – died 1905)
• 1889 – 1896 Frank Athelstane Swettenham (born 1850 – died 1946)
• 1896 – 1902 William Hood Treacher (born 1849 – died 1919)
• 1902 – 1903 John Pickersgill Rodger (born 1851 – died 1910)
• 1905 – 1910 Ernest Woodford Birch (born 1857 – died 1929)
• 1910 – 1912 Henry Conway Belfield (born 1855 – died 1923)
• 1912 – 1913 William James Parke Hume (1st time) (acting) (born 1866 – died 1952)
• 1913 – 1919 Reginald George Watson (born 1862 – died 1926)
• 1919 – 1920 George Maxwell (born 1871 – died 1959)
• 1920 – 1921 William James Parke Hume (2nd time) (s.a.)
• 1921 – 1926 Cecil William Chase Parr (born 1871 – died 1943)
• 1926 – 1927 Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor (born 1872 – died 1940)
• 1927 – 1929 Henry Wagstaffe Thomson (born 1874 – died 1941)
• 1929 – 1930 Charles Walter Hamilton Cochrane (born 1876 – died 1932)
• 1931 – 1932 Bertram Walter Elles (born 1877 – died 1963)
• 1932 – 1939 G. E. Cater
• 1939 – 1941 Marcus Rex (born 1886 – died 1971)

• 1888 – 1891 Martin Lister (1st time) (born 1857 – died 1897)
• 1891 – 1894 W. F. B. Paul
• 1894 – 1895 Robert Norman Bland (born 1859 – died 1948)
• 1895 – 1897 Martin Lister (2nd time) (s.a.)
• 1898 – 1901 Ernest Woodford Birch (born 1857 – died 1929)
• 1901 – 1902 Henry Conway Belfield (born 1855 – died 1923)
• 1902 – 1903 Walter Egerton (born 1858 – died 1947)
• 1904 – 1910 Douglas Graham Campbell (born 1867 – died 1918)
• 1910 – 1911 Richard James Wilkinson (born 1867 – died 1941)
• 1912 – 1919 Arthur Henry Lemon (born 1864 – died 1933)
• 1919 – 1921 J. R. O. Aldworth (acting)
• 1921 – 1925 Edward Shaw Hose (born 1871 – died 1946)
• 1925 – 1928 Ernest Charteris Holford Wolff (born 1875 – died 1946)
• 1928 – 1932 James William Simmons (born 1877 – died 19...)
• 1932 – 1937 John Whitehouse Ward Hughes (born 1883 – died 19...)
• 1937 – 1939 Gordon Lupton Ham (born 1885 – died 1965)
• 1939 – 1941 John Vincent Cowgill (born 1888 – died 1959)

• 1888 – 1896 John Pickersgill Rodger (born 1851 – died 1910)
• 1896 – 1900 Hugh Clifford (1st time) (born 1866 – died 1941)
• 1900 – 1901 Arthur Butler (born 18... – died 1901)
• 1901 – D. H. Wise (acting)
• 1901 – 1903 Hugh Clifford (2nd time) (s.a.)
• 1905 – 1908 Cecil Wray
• 1908 – 1909 Harvey Chevallier (acting)
• 1909 – 1910 Edward Lewis Brockman (born 1865 – died 1943)
• 1910 – 1911 Warren Delabere Barnes (born 1865 – died 1911)
• 1911 – 1917 Edward John Brewster (born 1861 – died 1931)
• 1917 – 1921 Cecil William Chase Parr (born 1871 – died 1943)
• 1921 – 1922 F. A. S. McClelland (acting) (born 1873 – died 1947)
• 1922 – 1926 Henry Wagstaffe Thomson (born 1874 – died 1941)
• 1926 – 1929 Arthur Furley Worthington (born 1874 – died 1964)
• 1929 – 1930 C. F. J. Green
• 1931 – 1935 Hugh Goodwin Russell Leonard (born 1880 – died 19...)
• 1935 – 1941 C. C. Brown

Map of British Malaya, 1924

For the purpose of efficient administration, all the states of the federation were further divided into districts (Malay: Daerah). Each district was administered by a District Office (Malay: Pejabat Daerah) headed by a District Officer (Malay: Pegawai Daerah).[3]

State capital: Ipoh, Perak

Districts:

1. Hulu Perak (Upper Perak)

2. Selama

3. Larut

4. Kerian

5. Matang

6. Kuala Kangsar

7. Kinta

8. Hilir Perak (Lower Perak)

9. Batang Padang

Notes:

1. The territories of Dinding and Pangkor Island was ceded to the British, administered as part of the Straits Settlements. Returned to the government of Perak in February 1935.[4]

2. The capital of Perak was moved to Ipoh in 1935 and has remained there ever since.

State capital: Kuala Lumpur (also as the Federal capital)

Districts:

10. Hulu Selangor

11. Kuala Selangor

12. Kuala Lumpur

13. Klang

14. Hulu Langat

15. Kuala Langat

State capital: Seremban

Districts:

16. Seremban

17. Port Dickson (Coastal District)

18. Jelebu

19. Kuala Pilah

20. Tampin

Notes:

Tanjung Tuan (also known as Cape Rachado) was a Dutch possession (originally Portuguese before 1641), passed to the British in 1824. Administered as an exclave of Malacca until today.

State capital: Kuala Lipis

Districts:

21. Lipis

22. Raub

23. Bentong

24. Temerloh

25. Kuantan

26. Pekan

Notes:

The capital of Pahang was Kuala Lipis until 1953 when it moved to Kuantan.

• Lawrence Colvile Jackson
• 1913–1917 Sir Thomas de Multon Lee Braddell
• 1919–1920 Sir G. Aubrey Goodman
• 1920 Sir John Robert Innes (acting)
• 1921–1925 Sir Lionel Mabbot Woodward

• 1925–1929 Sir Henry Hessey Johnston Gompertz
• 1929–1932 Sir Lancelot Henry Elphinstone
• 1933–1937 Sir Samuel Joyce Thomas [5]
• 1937–? Sir Roger Evans Hall [6]
• ?–1941 Kenneth Elliston Poyser
• 1941–c.1945 Sir Harry Herbert Trusted

The revenue of Selangor in 1875 amounted to only $115,656; in 1905 it had increased to $8,857,793. Of this latter sum $3,195,318 was derived from duty on tin exported, $1,972,628 from finance, federal receipts, and $340,360 from land revenue. The trade balance was chiefly derived from the revenue farms, which included the right to collect import duty on opium and spirits. The expenditure for 1905 amounted to $7,186,146, of which sum $3,717,238 was on account of federal charges and $1,850,711 for public works. The value of the imports in 1905 was $24,643,619 and that of the exports was $26,683,316, making a total of $51,326,935 equivalent to £5,988,000. Tin is the principal export. The amount exported in 1905 was 17,254 tons. The total area of alienated mining land at the end of 1905 amounted to 65,573 acres (265 km²).

The revenue of Perak in 1874 amounted to $226,333. That for 1905 amounted to $12,242,897. Of this latter sum $4,876,400 was derived from duty on exported tin, $2,489,300 from railway receipts, $505,300 from land revenue and $142,800 from postal and telegraphic revenue. The remainder is mainly derived from the revenue farms, which are leased for a short term of years, conveying to the lessee the right to collect import duties upon opium, wine and spirits, to keep pawnbroking shops, and to keep public licensed gambling-houses for the use of non-Malay only. The expenditure for 1905 amounted to $10,141,980. Of this sum $4,236,000 was expended upon railway upkeep and construction and $2,176,100 upon public works. The value of the imports into Perak during 1905 was over $20,000,000, and that of the exports exceeded $40,000,000, making a total of over $60,000,000, equivalent to about seven million sterling. The output of tin from Perak ranged between 18,960 tons, valued at $23,099,506 in 1899, and 26,600 tons, valued at $35,500,000, in 1905. The fluctuating character of the output was due to the uncertainty of the labour supply. The mining population was recruited exclusively from the districts of southern China, and during certain years an increased demand for labourers in China itself, in French Indo-China, in the Dutch colonies, and in South Africa temporarily and adversely affected immigration to the Straits of Malacca. The output had, moreover, been affected from time to time by the price of tin, which was $32.20 per pikul in 1896, rose to $42.96 in 1898, to $74.15 in 1900, and averaged $80.60 in 1905. Exclusive of tin, the principal exports were $108,000 worth of Para rubber, $181,000 of copra, $54,000 of hides, $48,000 of patchouli, and considerable quantities of timber, rattans and other jungle produce.

The revenue of the Negri Sembilan amounted to only $223,435 in 1888. In 1898 it had increased to $701,334, in 1900 to $1,251,366, and in 1905 to $2,335,534. The revenue for 1905 was derived mainly as follows: – customs $1,268,602, land revenue $145,475, land sales $21,407, while the revenue farms contributed $584,459. The expenditure in 1905 amounted to $2,214,093, of which $1,125,355 was expended upon public works. The trade returns for 1905, which are not, however, complete, showed an aggregate value of about $13,000,000. The value of the tin exported during 1905 exceeded $6,900,000, and the value of the agricultural produce, of which gambier represented $211,000 and damar $80,000, amounted to $407,990.

The revenue of Pahang in 1899 amounted to only $62,077; in 1900 to $419,150. In 1905 it was $528,368. The expenditure in 1905 amounted to $1,208,176. Of this sum $736,886 was expended on public works. Pahang is still a source of expense to the federation, its progress having been retarded by the disturbances which lasted from December 1891 until 1895, with short intervals of peace, but the revenue was steadily increasing, and the ultimate financial success of the state is considered to be secure. Pahang owed something over $3,966,500 to Selangor and $1,175,000 to Perak, which had financed it for some years out of surplus revenue. The value of the imports in 1905 was $1,344,346, that of the exports was $3,838,928, thus making a total trade value of $5,183,274. The most valuable export is tin, the value of which in 1905 amounted to $2,820,745. The value of the gutta exported exceeded $140,000, that of dried and salted fish amounted to nearly $70,000, and that of timber to $325,000.

With the threat of Germany, the British Navy was in a drive for expansion. As a contribution, the Government and people of the Federated Malay States agreed to finance the commissioning of HMS Malaya; this was a motion proposed in the Federal Council by the Sultan of Perak in 1913 and supported by the Sultan of Selangor. The battleship which cost $25,000,000 (approximately £2,945,709) was one of five of the Queen Elizabeth class, displacing 31,000 tons, mounting fifteen-inch guns and capable of 25 knots (46 km/h). The most modern ships of their day, they formed the 5th Battle Squadron and fought as such at Jutland in 1916. HMS Malaya was also refurbished and was in service throughout World War II.

After the Japanese landed in Malaya on 8 December 1941, the Japanese forces began their invasion of the Malay Peninsula. Japanese forces began their invasion of the FMS by crossing the Thailand–FMS border at Kroh. Ipoh, the state capital of Perak, fell on 26 December 1941. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States and the State of Selangor, was captured on 11 January 1942. Seremban, the state capital of Negeri Sembilan, was captured two days later. Kuantan, in the eastern component state of Pahang, fell on 30 December 1941, meanwhile the capital, Kuala Lipis was taken by the Japanese on 7 January 1942. With the conclusion of the Battle of Gemas on 15 January 1942, the entire FMS was now in Japanese hands.

All of Malaya including Singapore remained under Japanese occupation until the surrender of the Japanese home islands.