The Selangor Succession Dispute, 1933–38

Abstract

Under the various treaties and quasi-treaties between Britain and the Malay States, matters affecting ‘Malay custom and religion’ were under the jurisdiction of the Rulers and their chiefs. The succession to a Malay throne was a matter of Malay custom but, since the establishment of British rule, it came to be controlled and regulated by the colonial power. At times this control had been exercised in a manner distasteful to the Malay ruling houses, but no Malay Ruler had come out in open opposition to a British choice of a successor to his throne until the Selangor Succession Dispute. To the great surprise of the colonial government, the old Sultan openly resisted its attempt to impose on Selangor a Raja Muda (Heir Apparent) who was unacceptable to him and to a section of his family. This paper proposes to discuss the Selangor Succession Dispute which raged for five years in Malaya and London with important repercussions on British policy towards the Malay States.