Malayan Emergency

Malayan Emergency, (1948–60), period of unrest following the creation of the Federation of Malaya (precursor of Malaysia) in 1948.

After World War II the Federation of Malaya was formed through the unification of several former British territories, including Sabah and Sarawak. The negotiations included special guarantees of rights for Malays (including the position of sultans) and the establishment of a colonial government. These developments angered the Communist Party of Malaya, an organization that was composed largely of Chinese members and was committed to an independent, communist Malaya. The party began a guerrilla insurgency, and on June 18, 1948, the government declared a state of emergency. British efforts to suppress the uprising militarily were unpopular, especially their relocation of rural Chinese into tightly controlled “New Villages,” a measure designed to deny the rebels a source of food and manpower. Under the leadership of British high commissioner Sir Gerald Templer, however, the British began addressing political and economic grievances. In the early 1950s several measures, including local elections and the creation of village councils, were introduced to facilitate independence. In addition, many Chinese were granted citizenship. Such actions decreased support for the insurgency, which had always been limited. By the mid-1950s the rebels had become increasingly isolated, but the emergency was not formally declared over until 1960.