Part 1: The Formation and History of Malaysia

The Independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957

After World War II, nationalist movements became active on the Malay Peninsula. Resistance to British colonial rule and desire for independence intensified. The 'Malayan Union' plan proposed by Britain in 1946, which would have weakened the sultans' authority and granted citizenship to non-Malay residents, was rejected due to strong opposition from the Malays.

Instead, the 'Federation of Malaya' was established in 1948, recognizing the special status of the Malays while taking gradual steps toward self-governance. In the first federal election of 1955, the Alliance Party, composed of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA), and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC), won an overwhelming victory.

Building on this victory, a negotiating team led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the UMNO leader at the time, began independence negotiations with Britain. Finally, on August 31, 1957, the Federation of Malaya declared 'Merdeka' (independence) and gained independence from Britain. Tunku Abdul Rahman became the first Prime Minister.

The Establishment of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963

After independence, the Federation of Malaya sought to expand into a larger federal state. In 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman announced a vision of a new federal state called 'Malaysia' that would include Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (then British North Borneo), Sarawak, and Brunei. On September 16, 1963, the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak unified to officially establish the 'Federation of Malaysia'. However, this unification provoked opposition from Indonesia and the Philippines. Indonesian President Sukarno denounced this as a 'neo-colonialist scheme' and declared 'confrontation', causing military conflict with Malaysia. Ideological and political conflict also arose between Singapore and the central government. Eventually, on August 9, 1965, Singapore separated from the Federation of Malaysia to become an independent nation. This confirmed the territory of Malaysia as we know it today.

The Development and Challenges of Modern Malaysia

After independence, Malaysia focused on achieving political stability and economic development. The inter-ethnic riots that occurred on May 13, 1969, became an important turning point in Malaysian history.

Behind the riots lay economic inequality and political tensions. At that time, Malaysia's economy was dominated by ethnic Chinese, while the Malays held a relatively disadvantaged economic position. In the 1969 general election, opposition parties led by ethnic Chinese achieved significant gains, heightening discontent among the Malays. After the election, clashes erupted in Kuala Lumpur. On May 13, political protests escalated into violent confrontations, resulting in numerous casualties, and the government declared a state of emergency.

Following this incident, the Malaysian government introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP) to improve the economic status of the Malays. The NEP was a policy that provided benefits to Malays including education, public sector employment, and business support, and subsequently had a major impact on Malaysian society and economic structure.

The May 13 incident demonstrated how serious inter-ethnic tensions were in Malaysia, and subsequently the government intensified policies aimed at maintaining inter-ethnic harmony.

Mahathir Mohammad served as Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and was a leader who spearheaded the nation's industrialization and modernization. Based on economic growth and nationalist policies, he focused on developing Malaysia into an emerging industrial nation. Born in British Malaya in 1925, he worked as a doctor before entering politics. During the 1960s and 1970s, he emphasized Malay nationalism and advocated policies to improve the economic status of the Malay population.

After assuming the prime ministership, Mahathir pursued the 'Look East Policy', adopting Japan and South Korea as economic models while fostering manufacturing and advanced industries. He focused on transforming Malaysia from a raw materials exporting nation into an industrial nation, developing the automotive industry (establishing Proton) and actively promoting electronics and infrastructure development. Additionally, he expanded the impact of the New Economic Policy (NEP) implemented after the May 13, 1969 riots, strengthening policies that expanded education, business support, and public sector employment opportunities for the Malay population.

Mahathir maintained democratic procedures while employing a strong authoritarian governing style. He controlled the press, suppressed opposition, and used the Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest anti-government figures. During the Asian financial crisis of 1998, conflict with Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim intensified, and due to differences over economic policy, Anwar was eventually arrested on charges of corruption and misconduct. This incident provoked significant controversy domestically and internationally, further highlighting the government's authoritarian character.

Diplomatically, Mahathir strongly criticized the Western-centered international order and pursued an independent foreign policy. He warned against interference from the United States and Western nations, and emphasized cooperation among developing countries. By strengthening relationships with Islamic nations, he established Malaysia's important place in the international Islamic community.

His strong leadership left a positive legacy of economic growth and industrialization in Malaysia, but there were also negative aspects that deepened political authoritarianism and inter-ethnic conflict. The issue of economic discrimination between Malays, Chinese, and Indians remained unresolved, and as press and political freedoms were restricted, discontent among anti-government forces grew. Even after stepping down from the prime ministership in 2003, his influence remained in political circles, and he set a record by returning to office at the age of 93 in 2018. Mahathir's era became an important turning point in Malaysian history, and his policies and leadership continue to receive diverse evaluations.

Since the 2000s, Malaysia has pursued the transition to a knowledge-based economy and digital innovation. Efforts to foster harmonious coexistence among diverse ethnic groups and religions continue as well.