ABSTRACT
On the 31st August, 1957, the nine Malay States along with the Settlements of Penang and Malacca became the independent Federation of Malaya. The treaty of 1948 was abrogated. The Queen ceased to exercise sovereignty over Penang and Malacca and to have jurisdiction over the Malay States, though the Federation remains within the Commonwealth and an agreement with Great Britain provides for the external defence of Malaya and mutual assistance, the request for assistance to be on the initiative of the Federation.
