Malaysia » History

Malaysia has a strategic importance in history due to its special geographic position. History of Malaysia is full of foreign influence of some super powers countries including India, many countries from the region of Middle East, Europe, Japan and China. The reason behind this strategic importance is great shipping routes moving through the area.

Roots of Malaysia history can be traced back to the prehistoric era of 60,000 to 2,000 BCE.  The empire of Srivijaya was first nation of Malaysia and grand dynasty of this religion. People of Servijaya civilisation also fought many Malaysia wars in the region. Most probably, members of Sevijaya civilisation fought first war in Malaysia to defend their dynasty with invading forces.  

History of Malaysia usually interlaced with much of her bordering countries. Economy of Malaysia benefited with the international trades in the form of wealth building and great diversity of businesses. On the other hand, involvement of the nations also got monopolisations and settlements of the various powerful nations in the region. Malaya people are considered to be the early Malaysia people of the main Peninsula of the region.

Entrance of Hinduism and Buddhism marked the beginning of this culture mix up. A large community of old people of Malaysia converted to Islam in between the fourteen to fifteen century. Many Muslim sultanates came into existence. Most import in them was sultanate of Melaka. Muslim culture clearly influenced almost all societies of Malay people. That is the reason why we see strong integration of Islamic ideas and philosophies in the Malaysia culture and most traditions of Malaysia in one way or another.

European colonial powers also saw great importance of the region. Portuguese came first and made their settlements in the area currently known as Malaysia. Therefore Portuguese have the credit of discovery of France for all the European colonists. Portuguese captured the Melaka sultanate. After the furious invasions of Portuguese, Dutch colonisers came into this region. At last British colonisers came in and strengthen their whole colonial regions including the area now come under into the territory of Malaysia. During that time many workers from China and India migrated here to work and get benefits from the economy made by the colonisation of Great Briton. Enormous information about Malaysia history along with vast historical information of Malaysia can be seen in Malaysian Encyclopaedia available online in the form of different brand names.

During the time of world war two, Japanese came to this region. Country of Malaysia remained under the strong influence of British politics. In 1961, several leading leaders of the country along with Abdul Rahman made up the idea for organising the territory under the name of Malaysia. They have decided that they would include the following territories for making their dream home land. 

• Brunei
• Malaya
• Sabah
• Sarawak
• Singapore  

These all areas were under colonial influence at that time. These leaders tried their best to include the Chinese citizens of the Singapore. But most of these leaders believed that one day Singapore would be able to gain independence from them. 

Soon after the year 1957, many areas of the country gradually granted independence from the British. Malaysia came into being on 16 September 1963.  General overhaul took place in the constitution of the country. Equal citizen rights were given to the members of all races present in the country. 

Suddenly Malaysia became a developing nation as Malaysia had huge production capacities of rubber, tin, and Palm oil and iron ore. These commodities helped the government in capitalising in other major division of the industries and infrastructures. In 1970s, government of Malaysia stressed on the two agendas, removal of poverty and liquidation of the division between the races currently present. These two agendas helped the Malaya population of Malaysia in making their life better. 

Main concerns of the newly born Malaysia were education and unequal division of economic power between multiethnic communities present in the country. Malaysian government took keen interest in the education system of the nation. 

The era of 1990s was the great economic growth in the country. There for the era of 1990s is said to be the era of Malaysia evolution from dependent and divided bunch of states to one of the most developing nations. Living standards of the Malaysian people got better. This economic development also helped in settling political unrest. Period of Mahathir Muhammad’s Prime Minister Ship was good but some bit degraded the democracy of the country. Economy of the country is in full bloom under Badawi administration. It is expected that Malaysia will become fully sprang up country in 2020.           

Malaysia is one of the important tourist destinations. Kuala Lumpur is not only the most modern capital city of country but also a place where you can observe most glorious ancient places in Malaysia standing side by side with most modern architectural monuments.