Editing Harold MacMichael (section)

==Malayan Union==
The [[British Military Administration (Malaya)|British Military Administration]] had set to task of reviving pre-war plans for centralised control over the [[Malay states]] within days after British [[Allies of World War II|Allied forces]] [[post-war Singapore|landed in Singapore]] on 5 September 1945.

MacMichael, who had completed his stint as [[High Commissioners of Palestine|High Commissioner]] of the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]], was empowered to sign official treaties with the [[Malay rulers]] over the [[Malayan Union]] proposal scheme. MacMichael made several visits to the Malay rulers, beginning with [[Ibrahim of Johor|Sultan Ibrahim of Johor]] in October 1945. The Sultan quickly consented to MacMichael's proposal scheme, which was motivated by his strong desire to visit England at the end of the year. MacMichael paid further visits to other Malay rulers over the proposal and sought their consent over the proposal scheme. Many Malay rulers expressed strong reluctance in signing the treaties with MacMichael, partly because they feared the loss of their royal status and the prospect of their states falling into Thai political influence.<ref name="Bayly, Harper pg 133-4">Bayly, Harper, ''Forgotten wars: Freedom and Revolution in Southeast Asia'', pg 133-4</ref>

It has to be mentioned that the Sultans signed under duress. The British were intent on securing their agreement and were willing to depose of any disagreeing Sultan if necessary. That all of the Malay Sultans signed with so little resistance can be attributed to a rather simple ploy by the British. They were privately told that if they resisted, an inquiry would be held into their relations, conduct and collaboration with the Japanese occupation during the war. The sitting rulers, many of whom were concerned that both their offices and social positions would be destroyed, quickly complied. Later, when their positions were confirmed and secure, many would complain that they had not been given the opportunity to consult with their state councils nor with each other. In the words of the Sultan of Kedah, "I was presented with a verbal ultimatum and a time limit, and in the event of my refusing to sign the new agreement,... a successor who would sign would be appointed".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Merdeka! British Rule and The Struggle for Independence|last=Khong|first=Kim Hoong|publisher=SIRD|year=2003|isbn=9832535182|location=Kuala Lumpur}}</ref>

The treaties provided that the British had full administrative powers over the Malay states except in areas pertaining to Islamic customs. The [[Malay people|Malays]] strongly protested the treaties, which had the effect of circumscribing the spiritual and [[moral authority]] of the Malay rulers over which the Malays held high esteem. Communal tensions between the Malays and the [[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese]] were high, and the prospect of granting citizenship to non-Malays was deemed unacceptable to the Malays.<ref name="Bayly, Harper pg 133-4"/>

Opposition to the [[Malayan Union]] and MacMichael's perceived highhanded ways in getting the Malay rulers consent led to the birth of [[Malay nationalism]] in [[British Malaya]].