The new Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Andrew Clarke arrived in November 1873 and within a year he took the states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong under British Protection. The rulers signed treaties by which they agreed to accept a British Resident whose advice should be asked and taken in all matters except those concerning Malay religion and custom. Sungei Ujong was the first of the Negeri Sembilan states to come under British Protection. Other Negeri Sembilan states that asked for British officers were Jelebu in 1883, Rembau in 1887 and by 1895 the whole of Negeri Sembilan became British protected. British Protection reached Pahang in 1888.
	Before the Malay States came under British protection they were backward and underdeveloped. There was no proper system of government and each chief ruled his district as a kind of feudal lord. He collected taxes and used them as he pleased. There were no roads, public buildings, schools or courts of law. When the British Residents arrived in Perak, Selangor, Sungei Ujong and Pahang and with the help of the local people set up an efficient form of government. At first there were resistance and difficulties, but as time went on the Residents learned to overcome them. The wisest of the early Residents was Sir Hugh Low, who worked in Perak from 1877 to 1889.
	In 1889, Frank Swettenham succeeded Mr. Hugh Low as Resident of Perak. Swettenham saw the great progress that would follow if the four states of Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang were joined together in a Federation. The Governor of the Straits Settlements gave his consent to the formation of the Federation. The Malay Rulers and the other residents also accepted the idea of federation and in 1896 the four Malay States under British Protection became the Federated Malay States. Kuala Lumpur was selected on its account as its central position to be the capital of the Federated Malay States. The first Resident-General was Sir Frank Swettenham.
	There was rapid development after the Federated Malay States were formed. The population of the four states increased from 424,000 in 1891 to 860,000 in 1905. Malaya became the chief supplier of tin to the world. After 1900, rubber plantations were started all over the country bringing great prosperity to the people. The revenue from tin, rubber and other products provided the government with money to build roads, bridges, railways, schools and hospitals and to tackle the problem of malaria. By the end of 1904, nearly 2,4000 miles of first-class road were in use and a train service was in operation between Prai and Seremban.

Audio

Video

Image   Image 1     Image 2     Image 3     Image 4     Image 5