A History of Malaysia - Softcover

Andaya, Barbara Watson; Andaya, Leonard Y.

3.97

88 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0824824253 ISBN 13: 9780824824259

Publisher: University of Hawaii Press, 2001

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Malaysia's multicultural society supports one of the most dynamic economies in Asia. This completely revised new edition of the standard text, first published twenty years ago, traces the history of the country from early times to the present day.

The authors give particular attention to the evolution of Malay polities and their close links with indigenous groups who lived on the oceans and in the deep jungles of the region, from Sumatra to Borneo. This provides the background to the establishment of the Malay port of Melaka, which was conquered by the Portuguese in 1511, foreshadowing the establishment of a British colonial regime in the late nineteenth century.

Although the large numbers of Chinese and Indian migrants who arrived to work in the tin and rubber industries contributed to economic expansion, colonial policies did not encourage communal interaction. The authors trace the process by which post-independence leaders in Malaya attempted to counter the legacy of ethnic hostility while answering Malay demands for an affirmation of their rights and a stronger commitment to Islam. The incorporation of the Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 rendered the goal of welding a nation from areas that were geographically separated and culturally disparate even more problematic.

The intense emotions attached to issues of race were made tragically evident in the racial riots of May 1969, which this book sees as a watershed in modern Malaysian history. As Malaysia enters the twenty-first century, the government is determined to oversee the transition to an economy focused on manufacturing and advanced technology, and to eliminate poverty and the association between occupation and race.

While several recent studies deal with the impact of colonial rule and Malaysia's spectacular economic transition, this book is unique because it tracks developments from early times and identifies continuities as well as change. Combining the authors' specialist knowledge of precolonial sources with the most recent contemporary research, this new edition reinforces the position of A History of Malaysia position as a standard reference for all those interested in the historical processes which led to the emergence of this culturally varied and economically energetic country.

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About the Author:

BARBARA WATSON ANDAYA is Professor in the Asian Studies Department at the University of Hawai'i. LEONARD Y. ANDAYA is Professor of History at the University of Hawai'i.

Review:

'This is a second, revised edition of a general history which, since its first appearance in 1982, has become the leader in its field. The authors have retained much of the content of their first edition, but have made significant alterations and additions to bring in the data and analysis of many subjects found in the extensive research and writing of the past twenty years...Students and their teachers will find the new edition a recognizable but considerably revised successor to the original. They will share with the general reader food for thought about Malaysia, ancient and modern. The historical narrative is comprehensive, with very adequate coverage of East Malaysia, impeccable in its scholarship, and clear in its exposition. The annotation is rather sparse but this is supplemented by notes for further reading for each chapter which are historiographical essays. The index, glossary and maps are useful. It is altogether an excellent book.' - John Gullick, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 'In revising their earlier work, already widely acknowledged as a 'standard reference', the authors have rewritten parts of many chapters to incorporate new work on Malaysian history published since the 1980s...so that this new edition encompasses major political events and socio-economic developments from the earliest human settlements up to the present. No other work on Malaysian history covers such a long period...The general reader will find it interesting and students of Malaysian history will find it exceedingly useful. - Tan Liok Ee, The Star 'This second edition incoporates recent findings and amplifies by some 30 pages the period since the Japanese invasion in 1941. Authoritative, stimulating and up to date, this remains the first port of call for scholars, students and any traveller seeking to discover Malaysia's history.' - A.J. Stockwell, Times Higher Education Supplement 'This is the best general history of Malaysia to appear to date.' - A.J. Stockwell, History 'This ... book is ideal for introductory university use ... (The authors) write with impeccable objectivity without ducking the historical dimension of sensitive present-day issues like race relations.' - Dennis Duncanson, Asian Affairs

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