Editor's Note

Abstract

Editor's Note Dr Paul Kratoska The year 2019 marks 200 years following Thomas Stamford Raffles' arrangement establishing a British trading settlement at Singapore. Over the years, Raffles' actions have generated considerable controversy, inter alia a dispute with the Dutch over British claims that was settled by treaty in 1824, and questions about the roles played by Raffles, Thomas Farquhar and John Crawfurd respectively in the "founding' of Singapore, about what the events of 1819 should actually amounted to in the history of Singapore, and about what how post-colonial Singapore should commemorate those events. As a contribution to this discussion, this issue of JMBRAS reproduces material commenting on the founding and early years of Singapore published in British journals between 1819 and 1825. As this issue of JMBRAS was going to Press, we received word of the passing of Professor Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, a former president of the society and past editor of this journal. The "In Memoriam" piece that follows this note commemorates his work and his association with the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. [End Page vii] Dr Paul Kratoska JMBRAS Copyright © 2019 Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society