ABSTRACT

This paper examines the Dutch and the British colonial policies related to trade and societies in the Strait of Malacca focusing on Malacca and Penang. Covering the period from 1795 to 1825 – the period of transition and transfer of power—this paper attempts to observe colonial policies that resulted in social segregation. It begins with the description of the Strait of Malacca, i.e. its historical background, followed by the trade and societies in the region. It then assesses the British and the Dutch methods of ruling and their policies that result in social segregation in the Strait of Malacca’s societies. Using both primary and secondary materials collected from the British Library and the SOAS Library, this paper concludes that some policies set up by the colonizers grant privileges to a particular ethnic group.