By the 1890s Britain controlled four tin-rich states: Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. Each already had a British Resident, but they were run separately and unevenly. In 1896 Britain joined them into the Federated Malay States (FMS) / Negeri-negeri Melayu Bersekutu to make administration more uniform and efficient.
The central government
The FMS had its capital at Kuala Lumpur. A new senior officer, the Resident-General (Residen Jeneral), headed the federal administration and oversaw the four Residents. The first Resident-General was Frank Swettenham. Although each state kept its Sultan and its own Resident, real power became centralised in Kuala Lumpur.
Key idea
FMS 1896 = Perak + Selangor + Negeri Sembilan + Pahang, capital Kuala Lumpur, headed by the Resident-General.
The Federal Council
In 1909 a Federal Council was set up to make laws and decide the budget for all four states together. This further reduced the powers of the Sultans and the individual State Councils, and strengthened British central control.
Federation did bring benefits: railways and roads were built, tin and rubber exports grew, and richer states like Perak and Selangor could help fund a poorer, indebted state like Pahang. Yet the price was a steady loss of the Malay rulers' real authority, since most important decisions were now made centrally in Kuala Lumpur rather than in each state.
Remember
- FMS formed 1896; four states; capital Kuala Lumpur.
- Head = Resident-General; first was Frank Swettenham.
- Federal Council added in 1909 — centralised law-making.