Malaysia: Malaya

The Federation of Malaya has a population of 7 million five decades ago.

Malaya, the size of Alabama, was a much-sought prize throughout its history. Malaya was repeatedly invaded by India, Thailand, Indonesia and Indochina.

In 1511, the Portuguese seized Malacca. Rival Dutch traders, based in Java, took Malacca from the Portuguese in 1641 in order to protect their East Indies routes. The British got their first toe hold in Malaya on Penang Island in 1986. The British obtained Malacca from the Dutch in 1824, two years before the birth of Malacca High School. Malacca, Singapore and Penang came to be known as the Straits Settlements.

1909 saw Siam ceded control of Malaya's northern states like Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah and Perlis to Great Britain.