Malaysia was colonised, admits Muhyiddin

Amidst polemics on whether or not our country was colonised by the British, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said in Parliament he believes that Malaysia was indeed a British colony.

Malaysian Insider reports :

By Clara Chooi

October 05, 2011

Muhyiddin Yassin told Parliament today the fact Malay Rulers were compelled to accept advice from the British commissioner or resident “means we were not free”. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Putrajaya finally resolved today the confusion over Malaysia’s historical past and rubbished claims that the country had never been colonised by the British.

Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told Parliament today that although the Malay Rulers had retained their sovereignty while under British rule, they were compelled to accept advice from their colonisers, a clear indication that the country “was not free”.

“On the question of whether Malaysia was colonised, the answer is — yes. I take that stand although there are some views stating otherwise.

“If we study historical facts carefully, we will know that our celebration of Merdeka is not in vain because we were colonised.

“The Malay Rulers had to accept the advice of the British commissioner or resident and this means we were not free,” he told the House.

Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president, was responding to a supplementary question from Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak), who had pressed for a response from Putrajaya on the issue.

Azmin had pointed out that the recent claim by the National Professors’ Council (MPN) that Malaysia was never colonised by the British and the government’s subsequent silence had caused confusion among Malaysians, particularly students who are scheduled to sit for SPM examinations next month.

MORE TO COME

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini reports:

Amidst polemics on whether or not the country was colonised by the British, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told the Dewan Rakyat today that he believes that Malaysia was indeed a British colony.

"Have we been colonised? Yes! We have been celebrating our independence every year. It can't be for nothing," he said, replying a supplementary question from Azmin Ali (PKR- Gombak) during the Question session.

Muhyiddin said that, while some argue that the Malay sultans only received 'advice' from the British, he is of the opinion that they were under the de facto, if not direct control, of the British Crown.

"They received advice from the British residents, but the advice must be accepted. They (the sultans) are not free (to rule)," he argued.

Azmin (left) also asked Muhyiddin, the education minister, if there are any plans to include the "philosophy of history" as a subject in schools, as opposed to just merely educating students on historical facts.

Muhyiddin replied that historical facts are by and large consistent, but that the interpretation of the facts - or the philosophy and understanding of history - could differ, leading to misunderstanding.

As such, the interpretation of history should be done by experts and not by laymen and politicians, he said,

Muhyiddin said a committee is in place to ensure that the subject encompasses facts and the right interpretation to enrich students’ understanding of history.

He earlier replied Shamsul Anwar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) about government initiatives to study and review historical facts in the national education system, saying that a committee is reviewing the history syllabus.

To improve students’ grasp of history, the subject will be introduced earlier in the school system, from Year 4. This will be implemented in stages, he added.

Not 'colonised', just 'protected'

The debate on whether or not Malaysia had been colonised by the British came to a head after the National Professors Council chief Zainal Kling claimed that Malaysia had only been a “protectorate” of the British.

He based this on the fact that no document since the Pangkor Treaty 1874 states that Malaya would be colonised.

“Being a protectorate is not the same as being colonised... Only three states were colonised - Singapore, Malacca and Penang... Stop saying (Malaya) was colonised for 400 years. That is a big mistake,” he had said.

Zainal said Malaya was only colonised for two years as the Malayan Union, from early 1946 to the end of 1947, as well as while under Japanese Occupation.