Problems after the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula

Following were the problems that emerged during the end of colonial period in the Malay peninsula: 

• Malay farmers were forced to change from subsistence farming (farming to pay for family and personal needs) to cash crops to pay for colonial taxes. 

• The British controlled this production and their departure would hurt the economy as it was British Empire which had assimilated these cash crops to the outer world. 

• The Malay people were too eager to include Singapore in the Union, which was a bone of content for years as British did not want to lose the control of the Malacca strait, very much like Suez Canal (which they lost later) 

• There was no sense of national unity or even common interest among the people living in Malaysia. They were loyal towards their regions or home countries. 

• The fate of rulers of the Malay Kingdoms and what was to be done with them in the event of British departure (much like princely states of India) as they gained autonomy in 1948 was unders. 

• Because of the opposition by Bhumiputera (sons of the soil) Malayan Union left Chinese and Indian residents with the danger of being stateless people. 

• The easy granting of citizenship to immigrants in the past by British was criticised by group of Malayans as they felt could to change Malayan demography. 

• The Muslim population of Malaysia although hostile to the British government, however, was equally hostile to the Communists for being Godless people. The Chinese backed MCP tried to solve the dichotomy but cannot. 

• The support of Indonesia and Phillipines to the rebels disrupting Federation of Malaysia. Both the countries wanted a fragmented Malay region ruled by Sultans. 

• The rebels' attacks on rubber plantations proved to be disasters for the Malay people. On the other hand British stopped the food supplies in many areas to starve the rebels, making the process of decolonisation even more devastating. 

• The lack of mature democratic traditions during colonisation was a big issue. 

• In the later negotiations, British wanted Malay to be a secular state whereas the Alliance of Malay parties wanted Islam to be recognised as the official religion of the State. 

• British wanted to include Tamil and Chinese as languages of Malaysia, rejected by Malay alliance.