• The Road To Independence
• The Struggle
• Prelude To Independence
• Chronology

Malaysians are special compared to the people of other countries because the struggle for their independence did not cause blood spills, loss of lives or property, or involve any arms revolution. Malaya's independence was made possible due to a crucial element many nations did not achieve – the courageous unity despite the various ethnic groups, cultures and religions.

This unity and harmony become the main strength, and the base for the Alliance Party to proceed with the discussion with the British to claim Malaya's Independence.

The reason that cooperation among races became the base of the independence struggle was that the world community and even the Malayan community then were not convinced with Malaya's ability to remain peaceful with a community structure that is of different religion, race and background.

This assumption was based by the fact that the world at that time could not solve ethnic problems. Critics agreed that if the world could not solve this problem, it would quite impossible that Malaya could.

Spearheading the struggle for independence was Dato' Onn Jaafar, who founded the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party a year after the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.

The formation of UMNO was a result of a compelling unity among all the Malays – the people and the monarchs – in fighting against the Malayan Union, a British scheme meant to put an end to all Malay traditions (political and administration system and customs as well as governance of all states in Malaya). The leadership of UMNO was handed down to Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in 1951.

It is also important to mention that the Malays were not alone in the struggle. Malaya was made up of a diverse community with various religions, races and ethnic groups. Although the Malay leaders were controlling the political leadership, they accepted the structure of the Malayan people and realised that a struggle without the participation of the other races would not succeed. The Malay leaders realised that in the long run, Malaya must be governed under a self-ruling system where all races unite under a single strong, firm political banner.

It soon became clear that the struggle for Independence was really a struggle of all the Malayan people.

In January 1956, Tunku Abdul Rahman led a delegation comprising four members of The Alliance coalition and four Rulers’ representatives to London, to negotiate on Malaya's independence. After three weeks of negotiations, the London Independence Agreement was signed on February 8 1956. The British Government had agreed to give Malaya her independence on the August 31 of the following year.

When Tunku Abdul Rahman and his delegation returned from London, the happy news was announced at Padang Merdeka, Bandar Hilir Melaka, – the place “where it all began”. The announcement was received by all with utmost joy.

The people's objective and dreams were reached on the night of August 30, 1957 at the Padang Selangor Club (now Dataran Merdeka) where the Union Jack flag was lowered for the last time and the Malayan flag was proudly raised.

The following day a new independent nation was born with Tunku Abdul Rahman declaring the Malayan Independence at the Merdeka Stadium. The historical event was attended by thousands of citizens, the Malay Rulers, the Duke of Gloucester (representing the Queen) and other representatives from the British government. The day was a most important and glorious day for all Malayans (then) and Malaysians today, for after 446 long years of colonisation, our land finally became a sovereign independent nation.

1786 Sir Francis Light arrived in Penang. Britain acquire Penang from Sultan of Kedah.

1819 Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles established free-trading post in Singapore for Britain

1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty was inked. Malacca is peacefully ceded to the British from the Dutch who get Batavia in Indonesia in return

1826 Singapore and Malacca joined with Penang to form Straits Settlements.

1832 Singapore made capital of Straits Settlements

1841 James Brooke installed as the Rajah of Sarawak

1881 British North Borneo Chartered Company established a center in North Borneo (present-day Sabah)

1888 North Borneo, Brunei and Sarawak accorded British protection

1896 Britain created Federated Malay States comprising Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Selangor and Pahang

1905 The Malay College in Kuala Kangsar established with the main purpose to provide education for future administrators in the British colonial government.

1915-1941 Early signs of a Malay nationalism against British rule began to surface when the British adopt divide-and-rule policy

1922 Sultan Idris Training College for Malay Teachers opened in Tanjung Malim, Perak

1931 Malayan Agicultural School opened in Serdang, Selangor

1941-1945 World War II reached Malaya – Japanese invasion and occupation marked by period of hardship, and anguish and fear

1945 Defeat of Japan signifying end of World War II. British return to Malaysia

1946 Britain initiated Malayan Union but was opposed by the Malays

1946 Datuk Onn Jaafar founded the United Malay National Organization (UMNO) to fight against Malayan Union scheme; Sarawak and British North Borneo become Crown colonies

1948 Federation of Malaya agreement signed. Beginning of communist insurgency – The Emergency period which would last for 12 years

1949 Malaya’s first institution of higher learning, the University of Malaya opened its doors at Raffles College of Medicine, Singapore

1952 UMNO and the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) cooperated in Malaya’s first municipal elections in Kuala Lumpur

1953 The Alliance coalition comprising UMNO, MCA and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) formed

1954 Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra lead a delegation to Britain to seek Independence for Malaya, but the trip was unfruitful

1955 First General Elections in Peninsular Malaya concluded with the Alliance’s landslide win. Tunku Abdul Rahman becomes Malaya’s first Chief Minister

1956 Tunku Abdul Rahman head Merdeka Mission to London to re-negotiate Malaya’s independence. Britain agreed to concede independence to Malaya.

1956 Back from London, Tunku Abdul Rahman announced the date of Malayan Independence at Padang Bandar Hilir, Melaka

1956 The Reid Commission was formed to formulate a draft and refine the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya

1957 Malaya gained independence from the British. Tunku Abdul Rahman became the first Prime Minister of Malaya while Dato’ Abd Razak Hussein became his Deputy

1957 The Conference of Rulers consented to the adoption of the title “Yang di-Pertuan Agong” for the Head of the Federation of Malaya, and Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad of Negeri Sembilan became the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Sovereign Ruler of Malaya

1959 The Kuala Lumpur campus of the University of Malaya opened by Yang di-Pertuan Agong

1961 Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the formation of Malaysia, which would include Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, North Borneo and Sarawak

1963 Birth of Malaysia, which comprised Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sabah (formerly North Borneo) and Sarawak

1965 Singapore left Malaysia and becomes an independent nation

1969 Racial riots in Kuala Lumpur after Federal Elections. An emergency state was declared, and the National Action Council (MAGERAN) was formed and led by Dato’ Abdul Razak Hussein. Under MAGERAN, order was restored and business was back as usual in the capital

1970 Tunku Abdul Rahman stepped down. Dato’ Abd Razak became Second Prime Minister

1970 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia established in Kuala Lumpur

1970 The New Economic Policy (NEP) established to encourage a fairer distribution of wealth among the races

1971 Tunku Abdul Rahman became the first Secretary General of Organisation Islamic Conference (OIC)

1976 Tun Abd Razak passed away in London. Dato’ Hussein Onn became Third Prime Minister

1981 Dato’ Hussein Onn stepped down and appointed Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad to take over as Fourth Prime Minister

1985 Malaysia began economic transformation from agriculture to technology-based industry. First Malaysian car, the Proton Saga rolled out of the Shah Alam production plant

1996 Malaysia launched its first satellite, the MEASAT, and direct-to-home satellite TV

1997 Malaysia’s first urban-suburban Light Rail Transit system was launched in Kuala Lumpur

1997 Opening of world’s tallest twin tower, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

1998 Global economic slowdown, Malaysia Kuala Lumpur became the first Asian city to host the Commonwealth Games amidst economic downturn

1999 Putrajaya became the new Administrative Capital of Malaysia

1999 World’s longest driverless metro train system, the Putra-LRT was launched in Kuala Lumpur and its suburbia

1999 The Sepang International Circuit was opened; Malaysia hosted the Formula One Grand Prix for the first time.

2000 Malaysia stepped out of the economic slowdown and celebrated the New Millennium in style

2003 Malaysia hosted the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)’s XIII Summit in Kuala Lumpur

2003 Malaysia hosted the 10th Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit in Putrajaya

2003 Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir hands over Malaysia’s leadership to Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a smooth power transition