The Colonialization of the Malayanscape

8/6/2019 The Colonialization of the Malayanscape

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The Colonialization of the Malayanscape by AaronLim Ee Zhen - 880512015475

Introduction

Colonialism is a set of interaction between colonized and colonizer in

complex and global relationship based on the imposition of political control of the

powerful nations over other- usually weaker nations. (Mills 1990).

During the late 18th and the 19th century, the British came to

colonize Malaya as part of their expansion plans to gather valuable

resource for their economy and war efforts, as to compete with the

world powers. In order to colonize Malaya, they held good relations

with the sultan - or at least only in the beginning phase of colonization,

they controlled the administration, built impressive buildings, and

introduced new technologies such as the railways. As a result, the

British not only exploited Malayas resources, but also left traces in

terms of politics, architecture, and socio-cultural in the society.


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Kuala Lumpur: Divided and Ruled

The map of Kuala Lumpur, the Klang river seperates the British to the west and the

Malay, Chinese and Indian community to the east (Gullick, J.M. 2000)

Before the intervention of the colonials, Kuala Lumpur was

mainly made of the local Malays, which were a community of farmers

planting paddy for rice. On the other hand, the majority of the Chinese


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people migrated from China for mining work to gather tin, and even

more came during the mining boom. Only later on, the Indians were

brought in from India by the British to do labor work such as building

railway tracks and to work on plantations. In order to control the local

community, to ensure their exploitation of the mining economy goes

uninterrupted, the British employed a divide and rule concept. With

years of colonial experience in India, they applied the same techniques

in Malaya by separating ethnic races from each other, encouraging

racial tension, and by infusing racial hatred against each other, the

British played a pivotal role in maintaining order and thus putting them

in control over the separated races.

With the influx of immigrants towards Kuala Lumpur, the British

took to their advantage by separating settlements according to the

three races, the Chinese, the Malays and the Indians. This is evident

with Petaling Street, also known as China Town, which is

predominantly inhabited by the Chinese. On the northern side of town,

Brickfields also known as Little India, is mostly resided by Indian

communities. As Kuala Lumpur becomes separated into smallergroups, maintaining power over the locals becomes easier for the

British, as any insurgencies against them would be based on a race

group, which is easier to handle compared to an insurgent caused by a

unified people of Kuala Lumpur.


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Colonial Urban Planning

On 4th January 1881, an overturned oil lamp in an opium den spread quickly

and in no time had engulfed the town. The settlement of about 500 houses was rebuilt

with bricks and tiles instead of timber ply, mud walls and palm thatch roof. The cost of

rebuilding the town was borne by Yap Ah Loy. This may have been the beginning of town

planning in Kuala Lumpur. (Kuala Lumpur's Colonial Influences, 2001)

The Map of Kuala lumpur, showing the location of the British buildings, Masjid Jamek,

and the timber bridge that connects the west bank the east bank area. (Gullick, J.M.

2000)

The British selected the west bank of the Klang river for their

colonial quarters and residency, since the river provided a natural

barrier between the Malay and the Chinese towns, with the only means


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of crossing the river being a wooden bridge. Small width of the timber

bridge would mean that capacity of the people crossing the river at

once would be limited, and therefore the British can easily deal with

any riot threats from the east bank. Also, by separating the Malay and

Chinese communities from the British area on the west, the British

creates an exclusive area for themselves. The Malay and Chinese

communities on the east bank are left to admire their exclusivity and

to marvel at their grand architecture, especially the Sultan Abdul

Samad building facing right into the east bank.

The image of the timber bridge that connects the colonials area, to the eastern side

of the Chinese and Indian community. (Gullick, J.M. 2000)


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The image of The Carcosa, the residence of Sir Frank Sweettenham, situated on top

of the hill, with scenic view of the Lake Gardens as well of the town of Kuala Lumpur.

(Gullick, J.M. 2000)

Sir Frank Sweettenham, the person in charge of the Kuala

Lumpur administration at that time, had his house, the Carcosa

building built on top of the hill enabling him to have an overview of the

town. With a vantage point upon the hill some safe distance away from

the town center, he was able to command the town across the river.

His position on top of the hill not only gives him an overview of the

town, but also provides himself with a defensive topography.

Surrounded by the scenic Lake Gardens, its shows the Britishs

exclusivity amongst the local people that are currently living in

cramped and dirty timber homes or shophouses.

Police headquarters and barracks were built at the foothill ofBukit Aman and the Padang in front was made level for police drill

exercise. This was to create a visual display to the general public of the

Britishs authority over Kuala Lumpur. Only later on, when the people

began to accept the colonials settlements in Kuala Lumpur was the


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field was made into a cricket green. After the public had known of their

power, with the police drill exercises, the cricket green was made to

further impress the locals over their luxurious lifestyle. For years,

cricket matches at the padang became social events for only European

community, up until only recently, the cricket green was made open to

the members of the Royal Selangor Club.

The image of the Jamek mosque built in between the Klang river and Gombak river

(Gullick, J.M. 2000)

Nevertheless, the British were not looking to overpower the

throne of the Sultan, they merely wanted to exploit the tin mines of

Kuala Lumpur with the least amount of hostility from the local Malays.

Therefore in order to appease the Malays, they have built the Masjid

Jamek at the fringe of the river, easily accessible by a sampan from

the Malay villages. The large steps shown in the picture above, marks

the entrance of the mosque with grand proportions. Instead of using


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the dusty and dirty road to come to the mosque, the Malays were

given the privilege of easily arriving at the mosque with their boats.

Architecture

During the 19th and the 20th century, the British built many buildings in

Malaya, these buildings were of a different architecture style, they built

buildings to adapt with the local climate while incorporating many

European style of architecture, along with Indian-Islamic architecture

into Kuala Lumpur. In every way, then, this is a true hybrid: An alien building type

rises in Malaya, to house the importers apparatus of a colonial administration (Abel

1985).


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The image shows the entire length of Sultan Abdul Samad building, as the picture

was taken from the vast open space of the Padang. (Sultan Abdul Samad2009)

The Sultan Abdul Samad building is one of the most prolific buildings built by the

British. The architecture of the building is a hybrid of classical style with Islamic-moorish architecture elements. Its many openings are also an attribute that adapts to the

local climate by maximizing natural ventilation against the humid-hot climate of Kuala

Lumpur. The building is clearly meant to be seen and admired from the outside,

especially from across that vast open space, which still provides a splendid view of the

entire length of the building as well as three neighboring building of the same group

(Abel 1985). By responding to the major public space, this building certainly makes a

statement into the landscape of Kuala Lumpur.

On the contrary of administration building, the residents of the

British officers were still remaining using the classical style blending

with the Tudor style. The bungalow like Carcosa, residence of Sir Frank

Swettenham, the British administrator who governed Kuala Lumpur at

that time (Yeang 1992) is dominated with the classical and tutor style

not in Islamic architecture.

The British had a different implementation of architecture between the personal

buildings and the public buildings. The public building such as The General Post Office,

The Sultan Abdul Samad building, the sanitary board building, The High Court building,

the public works department building, and the Kuala Lumpur Railway station were

always a combination between the Classical and Moorish-Islamic architecture. The

personal British building such as Carcosa, The Royal Selangor Club, St. Marys Church

and the Victorian institution were designed in Neo-classical blending with the Mock

Tudor architectural style.


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The image of the old General Post Office building, incorporating the same Neo-classical and Moorish

architectural style of the Sultan Abdul Samad building right beside it. (Landow, G. P. 2000)

The image of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station featuring Moorish architecture and Neo-classical architecture.

(Kuala Lumpur Railway Station 2001)


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The image of St. Marys church featuring Neo-gothic architectural style with a touch of Mock Tudor

architectural style. (Mafia, S. 2008)

The image of the Royal Selangor Club building with Mock Tudor architectural style. (Mafia, S. 2008)


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The image of the Carcosa Seri Negara, former residency of Sir Frank Swettenham, featuring Neo-classical

and Mock Tudor architectural style. (Steiner, R. 2006)

As a result of the many British buildings built during the colonial era, even the

rich businessman Loke Chow Kit built his mansion in accordance with the Neo-classical

architectural style. In building his mansion with the European architectural style, it is an

acknowledgement that the colonial architectural style is a style that promotes prestige and

power over the ordinary locals.

The image of the Loke Chow Kit mansion, featuring Neo-classical architectural style. (Kamal, K. S. 2008)


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Summary

Ever since the British came into Kuala Lumpur in aide of Tengku

Kudin to maintain order, they have indirectly gained control over the

population thus enabling them to exploit the mining economy of the

town. The British system of colonialism was based on their years of

experience in colonizing India.

In conclusion, the colonial system was to create a sense of

prestige and power to the colonial masters, but at the same time

weakening local population by the separation of race groups. Divide

and rule disrupted the normal social activity amongst the races andalso puts them in a weaker position as smaller groups of races.

Colonial urban planning was made to benefit the British in terms of

defensive positions and to bring a sense of a higher class between the

British and the locals. Apart from that, the British also made sure the

Sultan was pampered in many ways to ensure that their stay at Kuala

Lumpur was welcomed with open arms. In doing so, the Sultan would

slowly lose his dominion over the people, the society would accept the

presence of an alien force to govern over them since their leader

willingly acknowledge their presence. On the other hand, colonial

buildings were made as a symbolic power over the town. Highly

ornamented buildings, with grand proportions showcases a type of

prestige over the normal buildings and it reflects to the colonials that

they are a people to be respected as so power and control is easily

achieved. Nevertheless, these indirect illusions are part of the

colonialization system that brainwashes the people, making the

exploitation of their resources easily achievable without much or any

hostile resistance.


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References

Abel, C. 1997.Architecture and Identity: responses to cultural and technological

change. Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd. Great Britain.

Abidin ,W. B. Malaysian Architecture Some Questions in The Makin of Its History.Majalah Arkitek, March.

Gullick, J. M. 2000.A History of Kuala Lumpur. Academe Art & Printing Services Sdn.

Bhd. Selangor.

Konig, A. The town and Country Planning act (1976): Learning From GermanExperience. Majalah Arkitek, March.

Kuala Lumpurs Colonial Influences. 2001.http://www.journeymalaysia.com/MHIS_klcolonial.htm (accessed on August 2, 2010)

Marker, S. 2003. Effects of Colonization.http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/post-colonial/. (Accessed August 3,

2010).

Mills, L.A. 1960. British Malaya 1824-67, MBRAS. Vol XXXXIII, part 1. Selangor.

Yeang, K. 1992. The Architecture of Malaysia. The Peppin Press. Kuala Lumpur.


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Image Credits

Gullick, J.M. 2000. The 1895 map [Image]. Academe Art & Printing Services Sdn. Bhd.

Selangor.

Gullick, J.M. 2000. The 1895 map [Image]. Academe Art & Printing Services Sdn. Bhd.

Selangor.

Gullick, J.M. 2000. Timber bridge across the Klang River in 1889 [Image]. Academe

Art & Printing Services Sdn. Bhd. Selangor.

Gullick, J.M. 2000. Carcosa, completed in 1898. The Official residence of the Resident

General (later Chief Secretary) FMS. [Image]. Academe Art & Printing Services Sdn.

Bhd. Selangor.

Gullick, J.M. 2000. The river junction (kuala) from which the town takes its name, with

the Jamek Mosque (1909) designed by A B Hubback[Image]. Academe Art & Printing

Services Sdn. Bhd. Selangor.

Kamal, K. S. 2008. Sejarah Bangunan Loke Chow Kit (Kini Bangunan PAM), JPG,

http://buildingconservation.blogspot.com/2009/09/sejarah-bangunan-loke-chow-kit-kini.html (accessed

August 8, 2010)

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, JPG, http://anakwilayah.wordpress.com/2009/10/ (accessed August 4,

2010)

Landow, G. P. 2000.Pejabat Pos Besar [General Post Office]. JPG,

http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/malaysia/colonial/5.html (accessed August 7, 2010)

Mafia, S. 2008. Saint Mary Catherdral, JPG, http://malaysiatourismasia.blogspot.com/2008/06/dataran-

merdeka-independence-square.html (accessed August 7, 2010)


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Mafia, S. 2008.Royal Selangor Club, JPG,http://malaysiatourismasia.blogspot.com/2008/06/dataran-

merdeka-independence-square.html (accessed August 7, 2010)

Steiner, R. 2006. Carcosa Seri Negara (Carcosa Mansion), JPG,

http://www.streetdirectory.com/malaysia/kl/stock_images/normal_show/_main_view/my_11610642270805

/617/ (accessed August 7, 2010)

Sultan Abdul Samad Buildings. JPG, http://www.keriswarisan.com/live/forum/posts/id_204 (accessed

August 4, 2010)

The Colonialization of the Malayanscape

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