Unfederated Malay States

Following the conclusion of World War II, the British crown colony known as the Straits Settlements was formally de jure dissolved in 1946 (having been rendered de facto defunct with the Japanese occupation of Malaya and the Fall of Singapore in 1942). Penang and Malacca were subsequently combined with both the Unfederated and Federated Malay States to form the Malayan Union. Singapore was administratively separated and established as a standalone crown colony directly governed by the United Kingdom, independent of any Malayan political framework.

In response to widespread local opposition, the Malayan Union was restructured in 1948 into the Federation of Malaya, comprising eleven states. Of these, nine continued as British protected states, while Penang and Malacca remained crown colonies. The Federation of Malaya achieved full independence on 31 August 1957 and was later transformed into Malaysia on 16 September 1963 through the inclusion of Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore. Singapore was ultimately separated once more from Malaysia and became a sovereign state on 9 August 1965.

History

Johor accepted a treaty of protection with the United Kingdom in 1885, and eventually succumbed to British pressure to accept a resident "Advisor" in 1914. Unlike the other Malay states under British protection, however, Johor remained outside of the Federated Malay States (formed in 1895).

Under the Bangkok Treaty of 1909, Siam transferred its rights over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis to the United Kingdom. These states then became British protected states. With the assistance of Japan, they temporarily returned to Thai jurisdiction for the latter part of World War II but was returned to Britain after the defeat and surrender of the Axis powers.