Malaya

Malaya is a historical and geographic term referring to the Malay Peninsula and its coastal Malay states, as well as to the political entities centered there during various periods of colonial and post-colonial rule. The region lies in Southeast Asia, bounded by the South China Sea to the east and the Strait of Malacca to the west, and includes today’s Peninsular Malaysia and parts of southern Thailand.

In precolonial times, the Malay states were governed by sultans and linked by trade networks, with the Malacca Sultanate (15th–16th centuries) serving as a major regional hub. Beginning in the 18th and 19th centuries, European powers established increasing control, leading to British Malaya and related administrative entities such as the Straits Settlements and various Malay state administrations.

The Federation of Malaya was established in 1948 as a self-governing part of the British Empire and achieved full independence in 1957. In 1963, Malaya joined with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia; Singapore left the federation in 1965. In modern usage, Malaya is often distinguished from the broader country of Malaysia, referring specifically to the peninsula or to historical periods prior to the formation of Malaysia.

Economic activity in Malaya historically centered on tin and rubber, evolving over time toward manufacturing, services, and technology. The region is ethnically and culturally diverse, with Malay as the majority group, alongside significant Chinese, Indian, and indigenous communities. Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the official language in the modern nation-state.