ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the changing complexion of the political economy of the Malay States. It must be said again that the political and economic changes in the Malay States coincided with a conjuncture of independent events. The Malay States, on the eve of British presence in the late eighteenth century, had a feudal administrative arrangement. On the eve of British colonial influence, the Malay States had an economic production system that was based on feudal practices. The authors turn now to a new phase in the political and economic development of Malay States after the establishment of the Straits Settlements. They turn now to the development in the Malay States and look at the key roles played by Chinese secret societies, Chinese taukehs, British officials and Malay rulers in the political and economic intrigues facing the Malay States after the 1850s.
