马来西亚历史

马来西亚历史简介
　

马来西亚由马来半岛的西马及位於北婆罗州的东马所组成。在英国统治的时期，西马都被称为马来亚 。
马来西亚是东南亚这个地区其中一个最早有人类居住的地方。大约50,000年前，东马砂劳越州的古老尼亚（Niah Cave〕洞里，已经开始有人类居住了。在西马，即马来半岛，内陆山区的原住民比马来人更早就在这里居住了。
　

位於柬埔寨的Funan王朝，於公元初期曾经延伸其影响力到马来半岛。到了第七世纪，苏门答腊的室里弗逊（Sri Vijaya）王朝则在南中国海的区域崛起成为最大的王朝。第十三世纪后半期，满者伯夷（Majapahit〕王朝取代室里弗逊，马来半岛也跟着落入满者伯夷王朝的掌控中。
　

室里弗逊王朝的王子拜里米苏拉，於大约1403年逃出满者伯夷王朝的势力范围后，落脚在马来半岛的马六甲，并在这里建立了历史上闻名的马六甲王朝。也是在这个时候，大约於十五世纪初，回教被引进马六甲王朝。
　

马六甲王朝在全盛时期，是个闻名於世的港口及经贸中心。由於其位置处於航海及经贸的中心，又有良好的深水港口，东去资源丰饶的东方文明古国，西接印度、阿拉伯世界及欧洲西方列强，使到马六甲不仅成为繁荣一时的商业中心，它也同时成为东西方多种文化互相碰面及交流的地方。中国明朝的郑和就曾在七度下南洋的时候，到过马六甲。为了促进两国之邦交，明朝的公主汉丽宝更是被远嫁到马六甲来。


西方列强於十六世纪相继而来，葡萄牙人於1511年消灭了马六甲王朝，开始了马来半岛的殖民史。葡萄牙统治马六甲到1641年，被荷兰人所击败，马六甲又由荷兰人所统治。英国人於十八世纪开始展延它对马来半岛的控制。1786年，莱特首登槟城，1819年莱佛斯占领新加坡，1819年英国人和荷兰人的交换殖民地，使到英国人也获得了马六甲，并於较后成立了马六甲海峡殖民地。
　

英国人和马来苏丹於1895年签署的邦咯岛协约，使到英国人的势力进一步从马六甲海峡殖民地延伸到内陆的马来州属。通过律政司（Resident System）的制度，英国人逐渐全面的控制了整个马来半岛及新加坡。在英国人殖民的时期，英国人为了大量开发锡矿及树胶园，从中国及印度大量的引进劳工，使到马来西亚的多元种族的社会特征开始形成。
　

在北婆罗洲方面，沙巴从1882年就被英北婆罗公司统治，直到日本军队在第二次世界大战攻入占领为止。砂劳越则是英人查尔斯布洛克和汶莱苏丹协议下所建立起来的白人拉惹布洛克的天下。从1840年直到1942年，它都由布洛克家族所控制。在世界大战过后，沙巴及砂劳越正式成为英国殖民地。


1942年第二次世界大战，日本军入侵马来亚，把英殖民政府击溃并统治了马来亚三年零八个月。日本投降后，英军回归马来亚继续其殖民。1948年，英殖民政府宣布全国进入紧急状况以对付马来亚共产党。


1940年代末期及1950年代所掀起的争取独立运动，终於使到英殖民政府让马来亚於1955年进行了第一次的全国选举，由代表马来人的巫统、代表华人的马华公会及代表印度人的印度国大党所组成的联盟（现在称为国阵），横扫了52议席中的51席。1957年8月31日，联盟主席东姑阿都拉曼宣布马来亚独立。马来文成为国语，回教成为国教。东姑阿都拉曼出任第一届的首相，并被称为国父。1963年，马来亚联同新加坡、沙巴及砂劳越组成了马来西亚联邦。但1965年，於东姑阿都拉曼及李光耀的政治分裂，新加坡宣布退出马来西亚。
　

1969年的全国大选成绩，显示人民对联盟的支持急剧下降，反对党所获得的席位剧增。虽然联盟仍然控制联邦政府，但失去了吉兰丹州政权，并在多个州议会里面对强大的反对党势力。1969年5月13日，反对党的胜利游行在不同种族的相互嘲讽及挑衅的过程中，演变成种族冲突及流血事件，造成百多人丧失生命，无数财产被摧毁。此历史事件被成为513事件。


1970年，马来西亚宣布实施为期廿年的新经济政策，其目的是要消除贫穷，重组社会，以拉近贫富的鸿沟。但这项政策所实行的固打制，也使到非马来人社会非常不满。1972年，第二任首相敦拉萨改变了外交政策，开始和共产国家接触，并致力使东南亚成为和平、自由及中立的区域。1974年，敦拉萨访问中国，两国的邦交自此一直密切发展至今。
　

1970 年代，马来西亚开始其工业化计划。新经济政策廿年的成果，已经使到马来人的经济地位大大提升。1991年，第四任相马哈迪医生宣布推行为期三十年的2020宏愿计划，致力使马来西亚在2020年成为先进国。直到目前为止，马来西亚仍然以每年超过8％的成长率发展，成为其中一个世界上成长得最快的国家。

马来西亚的历史档案


The region now known as Malaysia was first mentioned in Chinese and Sanskrit records of the seventh and eighth centuries. In subsequent centuries the area was under the influence and loose control of various Thai and Indonesian empires, including the great Sumatra-based civilization of Sri Vijaya. This was followed in the 14th century by the Majapahit empire based in Java. Sri Vijaya and Majapahit, Bhuddist and Hindu respectively, both left a mark on the peninsula. But even by the 14th century, Islam – already well established in parts of India – was steadily spreading eastwards through the substantial trade between India and Malaya. The first Muslim empire in Malaya, based on the trading port of Malacca on the western side of the peninsula, was formed under the rule of King Parameswara in the first quarter of the 15th century. Early in the 16th century, the Portuguese moved in and, after capturing Malacca, established a number of fortified bases in the region. Sultan Mahmud, the ruler of Malacca at the time, was unable to recapture it immediately. However, his successors - who had moved to Johore on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula - noted the arrival of the Dutch in the region at the end of the century and formed an alliance with them to expel the Portuguese in 1641.

Over the next century and a half, the Dutch steadily expanded throughout the region until the Dutch East Indies became the heart of a most prosperous colonial trading operation. Coming at the end of the 18th century, the British were relatively late arrivals to the region, but they were to play a key role following the European wars of the 1790s and, in particular, the defeat of The Netherlands by France in 1795. Rather than hand them over to the French, the Dutch passed control of some of their most valuable resources to the British in what became a series of exchanges. Gradually, during the 19th century, the British took control of the peninsula using economic pressure (particularly their monopoly of the tin trade) rather than outright military force: local rulers were permitted substantial internal autonomy provided that they posed no threat to British interests. The Federated Malay States were created as an entity in 1895, and remained under British colonial control until the Japanese invasion of 1942. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, the 11 states were once again incorporated as British Protectorates and, in 1948, became the Federation of Malaya.

In the same year, communist guerrillas – the bulk of whom were ethnic Chinese – launched an armed struggle aimed at establishing an independent socialist state. ‘The Emergency’, as the colonial authorities dubbed it, lasted formally until 1960. However, the serious fighting was over by the mid-1950s and, in 1957, Britain proceeded with its plan to grant independence to the Federation of Malaya.

In 1963, the Federation of Malaya merged with Singapore and the former British colonies of Sarawak and Sabah (North Borneo) to form Malaysia. Singapore seceded to become an independent state in its own right in 1965, leaving Malaysia in its present form. Tunku Abdul Rahman, who had taken over as premier of the federation in 1957, remained as Prime Minister of the newly expanded republic. He remained in office until 1970, when he was replaced by Tunku Abdul Razak. The dominant political organization was the United Malay National Organization (UMNO), which allied itself with several smaller formations to create the Barisan Nasional (NF, National Front). In 1982, the NF won the general election scheduled for that year under the new leadership of Mahathir Mohammed.

Mahathir’s style was characterized by maverick policy-making, an acerbic tongue, strident nationalism, acute political antennae and a ferocious intolerance of opposition from any quarter. In his two decades in power, he stamped his authority on Malaysian politics. His ruthlessness was exemplified after falling out with his former deputy and heir apparent, Anwar Ibrahim, over Malaysia’s handling in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Anwar was framed for alleged homosexuality (which is illegal in Malaysia) and corruption; after a show trial he was then imprisoned for fifteen years.

At first, Anwar and his wife became a focus of opposition to Mahathir. Although the NF had comfortably won every poll in the 1980s and ’90s, many people, including influential figures within UMNO, believed that Mahathir had finally overreached himself. The acid test came at the general election of November 1999. In the event, Mahathir ran a well-judged campaign which returned the NF to office with, once again, a substantial majority. Both the democratic opposition, organized around residual supporters of Anwar, and the Islamist opposition centered on the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) were comfortably dealt with. In particular, Mahathir made effective use of the ‘9/11’ attacks in the US to demonise his Islamist opponents.

With his political position now all but unassailable, Mahathir’s announcement in June 2002 of his intention to resign the following year was a huge surprise. The shock was followed by skepticism, and then by a further surprise in October 2003 when Mahathir did indeed stand down. The main political task for his chosen successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – formerly a senior civil servant – is to prevent any further progress by the Islamist PAS. The General Election on 21 March 2004 resulted in a landslide win by the Barisan Nasional.

Mahathir’s truculence applied equally to his foreign policy. On occasion he has cut off relations with both Britain and Australia because of uncomplimentary media coverage. Though strongly anti-communist, he established diplomatic relations with Vietnam and Malaysia’s other communist neighbors in 1989 in the face of strong objections from Washington. A strong proponent of Asian regional solidarity, he firmly believed that East Asia should develop political clout to match its economic power. Malaysia is also an active member of the Commonwealth.

On December 26 2004, an earthquake in southeast Asia triggered a huge tsunami that caused widespread devastation. Despite Malaysia's close proximity to the epicenter of the earthquake, much of the coastline was spared devastation since the effects of the tsunami were blunted by Sumatra. However, near the northern island of Penang, many people were swept out to sea by the tsunami and 68 people have been confirmed dead.

Government
Malaysia has a complex federal political system, with extensive local power still in the hands of nine hereditary sultans, who elect the head of state (entitled HM the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) every five years from among their number. There are 13 states plus two ‘Federal Territories’ (Kuala Lumpur and the island of Labuan). Legislative power is in the hands of the bicameral parliament, comprising the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) with 192 members directly elected for a five-year term, and the 70-strong Dewan Negara (Senate), of which 40 members are appointed by the Head of State and 30 members elected by the country’s 13 regional assemblies. Executive power is held by the Prime Minister, who is formally appointed by the head of state but in practice by the leader of the largest party in the Dewan Rakpat. The Prime Minister governs with the assistance of an appointed ministerial cabinet.

Economy
A fully-fledged ‘tiger’ economy, from the 1970s onwards Malaysia’s GDP grew rapidly at around 10% annually. However, in 1997 the Asian financial crisis brought this process to a shuddering halt. Malaysia has recovered reasonably well since then, although the headlong pre-1997 expansion has been replaced by a more measured pace of growth of around 4 to 5.5% each year, reaching 5.3% in 2005. Inflation was around 3% in 2005.

Healthy foreign exchange reserves, low inflation and a small external debt are all strengths that make it unlikely that a financial crisis similar to 1997 will re-occur. The Ringgit/US Dollar peg was abolished in July 2005. This has not resulted in any significant change to the exchange rate.

Malaysia is a member of the Pacific Rim organization APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Forum), which is assuming an increasingly important role in the regional economy.


The region now known as Malaysia was first mentioned in Chinese and Sanskrit records of the seventh and eighth centuries. In subsequent centuries the area was under the influence and loose control of various Thai and Indonesian empires, including the great Sumatra-based civilization of Sri Vijaya. This was followed in the 14th century by the Majapahit empire based in Java. Sri Vijaya and Majapahit, Bhuddist and Hindu respectively, both left a mark on the peninsula. But even by the 14th century, Islam – already well established in parts of India – was steadily spreading eastwards through the substantial trade between India and Malaya. The first Muslim empire in Malaya, based on the trading port of Malacca on the western side of the peninsula, was formed under the rule of King Parameswara in the first quarter of the 15th century. Early in the 16th century, the Portuguese moved in and, after capturing Malacca, established a number of fortified bases in the region. Sultan Mahmud, the ruler of Malacca at the time, was unable to recapture it immediately. However, his successors - who had moved to Johore on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula - noted the arrival of the Dutch in the region at the end of the century and formed an alliance with them to expel the Portuguese in 1641.

Over the next century and a half, the Dutch steadily expanded throughout the region until the Dutch East Indies became the heart of a most prosperous colonial trading operation. Coming at the end of the 18th century, the British were relatively late arrivals to the region, but they were to play a key role following the European wars of the 1790s and, in particular, the defeat of The Netherlands by France in 1795. Rather than hand them over to the French, the Dutch passed control of some of their most valuable resources to the British in what became a series of exchanges. Gradually, during the 19th century, the British took control of the peninsula using economic pressure (particularly their monopoly of the tin trade) rather than outright military force: local rulers were permitted substantial internal autonomy provided that they posed no threat to British interests. The Federated Malay States were created as an entity in 1895, and remained under British colonial control until the Japanese invasion of 1942. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, the 11 states were once again incorporated as British Protectorates and, in 1948, became the Federation of Malaya.

In the same year, communist guerrillas – the bulk of whom were ethnic Chinese – launched an armed struggle aimed at establishing an independent socialist state. ‘The Emergency’, as the colonial authorities dubbed it, lasted formally until 1960. However, the serious fighting was over by the mid-1950s and, in 1957, Britain proceeded with its plan to grant independence to the Federation of Malaya.

In 1963, the Federation of Malaya merged with Singapore and the former British colonies of Sarawak and Sabah (North Borneo) to form Malaysia. Singapore seceded to become an independent state in its own right in 1965, leaving Malaysia in its present form. Tunku Abdul Rahman, who had taken over as premier of the federation in 1957, remained as Prime Minister of the newly expanded republic. He remained in office until 1970, when he was replaced by Tunku Abdul Razak. The dominant political organization was the United Malay National Organization (UMNO), which allied itself with several smaller formations to create the Barisan Nasional (NF, National Front). In 1982, the NF won the general election scheduled for that year under the new leadership of Mahathir Mohammed.

Mahathir’s style was characterized by maverick policy-making, an acerbic tongue, strident nationalism, acute political antennae and a ferocious intolerance of opposition from any quarter. In his two decades in power, he stamped his authority on Malaysian politics. His ruthlessness was exemplified after falling out with his former deputy and heir apparent, Anwar Ibrahim, over Malaysia’s handling in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Anwar was framed for alleged homosexuality (which is illegal in Malaysia) and corruption; after a show trial he was then imprisoned for fifteen years.

At first, Anwar and his wife became a focus of opposition to Mahathir. Although the NF had comfortably won every poll in the 1980s and ’90s, many people, including influential figures within UMNO, believed that Mahathir had finally overreached himself. The acid test came at the general election of November 1999. In the event, Mahathir ran a well-judged campaign which returned the NF to office with, once again, a substantial majority. Both the democratic opposition, organized around residual supporters of Anwar, and the Islamist opposition centered on the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) were comfortably dealt with. In particular, Mahathir made effective use of the ‘9/11’ attacks in the US to demonise his Islamist opponents.

With his political position now all but unassailable, Mahathir’s announcement in June 2002 of his intention to resign the following year was a huge surprise. The shock was followed by skepticism, and then by a further surprise in October 2003 when Mahathir did indeed stand down. The main political task for his chosen successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – formerly a senior civil servant – is to prevent any further progress by the Islamist PAS. The General Election on 21 March 2004 resulted in a landslide win by the Barisan Nasional.

Mahathir’s truculence applied equally to his foreign policy. On occasion he has cut off relations with both Britain and Australia because of uncomplimentary media coverage. Though strongly anti-communist, he established diplomatic relations with Vietnam and Malaysia’s other communist neighbors in 1989 in the face of strong objections from Washington. A strong proponent of Asian regional solidarity, he firmly believed that East Asia should develop political clout to match its economic power. Malaysia is also an active member of the Commonwealth.

On December 26 2004, an earthquake in southeast Asia triggered a huge tsunami that caused widespread devastation. Despite Malaysia's close proximity to the epicenter of the earthquake, much of the coastline was spared devastation since the effects of the tsunami were blunted by Sumatra. However, near the northern island of Penang, many people were swept out to sea by the tsunami and 68 people have been confirmed dead.

Government
Malaysia has a complex federal political system, with extensive local power still in the hands of nine hereditary sultans, who elect the head of state (entitled HM the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) every five years from among their number. There are 13 states plus two ‘Federal Territories’ (Kuala Lumpur and the island of Labuan). Legislative power is in the hands of the bicameral parliament, comprising the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) with 192 members directly elected for a five-year term, and the 70-strong Dewan Negara (Senate), of which 40 members are appointed by the Head of State and 30 members elected by the country’s 13 regional assemblies. Executive power is held by the Prime Minister, who is formally appointed by the head of state but in practice by the leader of the largest party in the Dewan Rakpat. The Prime Minister governs with the assistance of an appointed ministerial cabinet.

Economy
A fully-fledged ‘tiger’ economy, from the 1970s onwards Malaysia’s GDP grew rapidly at around 10% annually. However, in 1997 the Asian financial crisis brought this process to a shuddering halt. Malaysia has recovered reasonably well since then, although the headlong pre-1997 expansion has been replaced by a more measured pace of growth of around 4 to 5.5% each year, reaching 5.3% in 2005. Inflation was around 3% in 2005.

Healthy foreign exchange reserves, low inflation and a small external debt are all strengths that make it unlikely that a financial crisis similar to 1997 will re-occur. The Ringgit/US Dollar peg was abolished in July 2005. This has not resulted in any significant change to the exchange rate.

Malaysia is a member of the Pacific Rim organization APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Forum), which is assuming an increasingly important role in the regional economy.

Malaysia History