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Federated Malay States Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu (Malay)
1895–1942 1942–1945 (Japanese occupation) 1945–1946
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Dipelihara Allah (English: "Under God's Protection")
Malaya in 1922:   Unfederated Malay States   Federated Malay States   Straits Settlements
Status	Federal protectorate of the British Empire
Capital	Kuala Lumpur1
Common languages	English Malay² Chinese Tamil
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Monarch
• 1895–1901 (first)	Victoria
• 1936–1942; 1945–1946 (last)	George VI
Resident General
• 1896–1901 (first)	Sir Frank Swettenham
• 1939–1942 (last)	Hugh Fraser
Legislature	Federal Legislative Council
Historical era	British Empire
• Federated	1895
• Treaty of Federation	1 July 1896
• Japanese occupation	15 February 1942 – 2 September 1945
• Japanese surrender	2 September 1945
• Malayan Union	1 April 1946
Population
• 1933[1]	1,597,700
Currency	Straits dollar (1898–1939) Malayan dollar (1939–1942; 1945–1946)
Preceded by Succeeded by Selangor Perak Negeri Sembilan Pahang 1942: Japanese occupation of Malaya 1945: British Military Administration (Malaya) 1946: Malayan Union
Today part of	Malaysia
1 Also the state capital of Selangor ² Malay using Jawi (Arabic) script ³ Later Chief Secretaries to the Government and Federal Secretaries

Part of a series on the
History of Malaysia
Prehistoric period Paleolithic  Lenggong Valley c. 2,000,0000 BCE  Mansuli Valley 235,000 BCE Mesolithic  Niah cultures 65,000–40,000 BCE Neolithic  Bewah man/woman 16,000 BCE  Perak man/woman 11,000–200 BCE  Neolithic Klang 500 – 200 BCE
Early kingdoms Ancient Kedah <100 BCE Chi Tu 100 BCE–642 CE Langkasuka 100 BCE–1474 CE Gangga Negara c. 100 CE–1025 Pan Pan 424–775 Old Kedah 170–1135 Old Pahang 449–1454 Srivijaya 700s–1025 Majapahit 1300s
Rise of Muslim states Kedah Sultanate 1136–present Samudera Pasai Sultanate 1267–1521 Brunei Sultanate 1368–present Malacca Sultanate 1402–1511 Sulu Sultanate 1450–1899 Pahang Sultanate 1470–1623 Aceh Sultanate 1496–1903 Pattani Sultanate 1516– 1902 Johor Sultanate 1528–present Sarawak Sultanate 1599–1641 Selangor Sultanate 1766–present Besut Kingdom 1780–1899 Setul Kingdom 1808–1916 Reman Kingdom 1810–1902 Kubang Pasu Kingdom 1839–1864
Colonial period Portuguese Malacca 1511–1641 Dutch–Portuguese War 1601–1661 Acehnese conquest of Perak 1620 Dutch Malacca 1641–1824 Pahang Kingdom 1770–1881 Straits Settlements 1786–1946 Siamese invasion of Kedah 1821–1826 Anglo-Dutch Treaty 1824 Burney Treaty 1826 Naning War 1831–1832 Kingdom of Sarawak 1841–1946 Separation of Perlis from Kedah 1843 Crown Colony of Labuan 1848–1946 Pahang Civil War 1857–1863 Larut Wars 1861–1874 Klang War 1867–1874 Pangkor Treaty 1874 Perak War 1875–1876 British Malaya / Borneo 1874–1946 Jementah Civil War 1879 North Borneo 1882–1946 Pahang Uprising 1891–1895 Mat Salleh Rebellion 1894–1905 Federated Malay States 1895–1946 Anglo-Siamese Treaty 1909 Unfederated Malay States 1909–1946 Battle of Penang 1914 Kelantan rebellion 1915
World War II Japanese occupation of Malaya / Borneo 1941–1945 Malayan campaign 1941–1942 Bornean Campaign 1941–1942 Battle of Muar 1942 Parit Sulong Massacre 1942 Battle of Singapore 1942 Sook Ching 1942 Syburi 1942 Sandakan Death Marches 1942–1945 Si Rat Malai 1943–1945 Jesselton revolt 1943–1944
Formative period BMA of Malaya/Borneo 1945–1946 Crown Colony of N. Borneo/Sarawak 1946–1963 Anti-cession movement 1946–1963 Malayan Union 1946–1948 Federation of Malaya 1948–1963 Malayan Emergency 1948–1960 Baling Talks 1955
Independence period Malayan Independence 1957 Singapore self-governance 1959 ISA 1960 1960–2012 Sarawak Insurgency 1962–1990 North Borneo self-governance 1963 Konfrontasi 1963–1966 Sarawak self-governance 1963 Formation of Malaysia 1963 Singapore in Malaysia 1963–1965 ASEAN Declaration 1967 Second communist insurgency 1968–1989
Modern period 13 May incident 1969 National Operations Council 1969–1971 Declaration of Rukun Negara 1970 New Economic Policy 1971–1990 Federal Territory of KL 1974 1977 Kelantan Emergency 1977 Pedra Branca dispute 1979–2008 South China Sea dispute (Spratly) 1980–present Federal Territory of Labuan 1984 Memali incident 1985 Operation Lalang 1987 Constitutional crisis 1987–1988 Peace Agreement of Hat Yai 1989 Royal Immunity Amendments 1993 Asian financial crisis 1997–1998 Reformasi Movement 1998–2022 H1N1 flu pandemic 2009–2010 Sedition Dragnet 2014 1MDB scandal 2015–present Pakatan Harapan takeover 2018 COVID-19 pandemic 2020–2022 Political crisis 2020–2022 Bornean Amendment 2021–2023 Green Wave 2022–present
Incidents Brunei revolt 1962–1966 North Borneo dispute (Philippine militant attacks) 1962–present Singapore race riots 1964 Brunei's Limbang claim 1967–2009 Penang Hartal riot 1967 13 May Incident 1969 Ligitan and Sipadan dispute 1969–2002 Kuala Lumpur flash floods 1971 Malaysian haze crisis 1972–present AIA building hostage crisis 1975 National Monument bombing 1975 Campbell Shopping Complex fire 1976 Sabah Air GAF Nomad crash 1976 Japan Airlines Flight 715 incident 1977 MH653 incident 1977 Dawn Raid 1981 1985 Lahad Datu ambush 1985 Memali Incident 1985 Sabah Emergency 1986 Ming Court Affair 1987 Penang terminal bridge collapse 1988 Taufiqiah Al-Khairiah madrasa fire 1989 Bright Sparklers disaster 1991 Highland Towers collapse 1993 Genting landslide 1995 MH2133 incident 1995 Pos Dipang mudflow 1996 Tropical Storm Greg 1996 1998–1999 Malaysia Nipah virus outbreak 1998–1999 Al-Ma'unah incident 2000 Sauk Siege 2000 2001 Kampung Medan riots 2001 2002 Taman Hillview landslide 2002 Indian Ocean tsunami 2004 2006–2007 Southeast Asian floods 2006–2007 Bukit Gantang bus crash 2007 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide 2008 2009 swine flu pandemic in Malaysia 2009 Attacks against places of worship 2010 Cameron Highlands bus crash 2010 Hulu Langat landslide 2011 Genting Highlands bus crash 2013 MH370 incident 2014 MH17 incident 2014 2014–15 Malaysia floods 2014–2015 Sabah earthquake 2015 2015 Plaza Low Yat riot 2015 Movida Bar grenade attack 2016 Kim Jong-nam's Assassination 2017 Darul Quran madrasa fire 2017 2018 Subang Temple riot 2018 2020-21 Malaysia floods 2021 LRT train collision 2021 2021-22 Malaysia floods 2021–2022 2022 Batang Kali landslide 2022 2023 Elmina plane crash 2023 2024 Lumut helicopters crash 2024 2024 Ulu Tiram police station attack 2024
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The Federated Malay States (FMS, Malay: Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu, Jawi: نݢري٢ ملايو برسکوتو) was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula — Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang — established in 1895 by the British government, and which lasted until 1946. In that year they formed the Malayan Union together with two of the former Straits Settlements, (Malacca and Penang), and the Unfederated Malay States. Two years later, the union became the Federation of Malaya, which achieved independence in 1957, and finally Malaysia in 1963 with the inclusion of North Borneo (present-day Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore.

Real power in the FMS and its constituent states rested with the four local British Residents and the Resident-General, the discretionary powers of the local rulers being essentially reduced to matters "touching Malay Religion and Customs".

The federation, along with the Unfederated Malay States of the peninsula and the Straits Settlements, was overrun and occupied by the Japanese during World War II. After the liberation of Malaya following the Japanese surrender, the federation was not restored, but the federal form of government was retained as the principal model for consolidating the separate states as an independent Federation of Malaya and the federation's later evolution into Malaysia.

On 20 January 1874, Sir Andrew Clarke, governor of the Straits Settlements, concluded with the Sultan of Perak the treaty of Pangkor whereby the Sultan agreed to "receive and provide a suitable residence for a British Officer to be called Resident, who shall be accredited to his court, and whose advice must be asked and acted upon on all questions other than those touching Malay Religion and Customs". The residency system was extended the same year to Selangor and Negri Sembilan, and in 1888 to Pahang.^[2]

To promote greater administrative efficiency, these four states were brought together in 1895/1896 to form the Federated Malay States. This structure was highly centralized, with real power resting in the hands of the agents of the British Government, at first called the Resident-General, and later the Chief Secretary.^[2]

The British established the Federal Council in 1898 to administer the federation. It was headed by the High Commissioner (The Governor of the Straits Settlement), assisted by the Resident-General, the rulers, the four state Residents and four nominated unofficial members. This structure remained until the Japanese invaded Malaya on 8 December 1941.

Although the Resident-General was the real administrator of the federation, each of the four constituent states of the federation retained their respective hereditary rulers. At the formation of the Federated Malay States, the reigning rulers were:

1. Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor
2. Sultan Idris Murshidul ‘Adzam Shah I of Perak
3. Yamtuan Tuanku Muhammad Shah of Negeri Sembilan
4. Sultan Ahmad Mu’adzam Shah of Pahang

In 1897 the first durbar was convened in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak as the platform for discussions for the four rulers. This formed the basis for the Conference of Rulers that was created later on under Article 38 of the Malaysian Constitution on 27 August 1957.

The flag of the Federated Malay States consisted of four different-coloured stripes, from top to bottom: white, red, yellow and black. Different combinations of these colours represent the four states that formed the FMS — red, black and yellow are for Negeri Sembilan; black and white for Pahang; black, white and yellow for Perak; and red and yellow for Selangor. The same design concept is used in Malaysia's national emblem. In the middle is an oblong circle with a Malayan tiger in it.

The National History Museum located near the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has a replica of the federation's flag.

The coat of arms of the Federated Malay States featured a shield guarded by two tigers. On the top of the shield is the crown (known as Eastern Crown in English heraldry), symbolising the federation of monarchies under the protection of the United Kingdom. A banner with the phrase "Dipelihara Allah" (Under God's Protection) written in Jawi is located underneath the shield.

The combinations of the four colours of the shield represents the colours of the flags of the states of the FMS in the same way the stripes of the FMS flag do.

• Red and yellow for Selangor
• Black, white and yellow for Perak
• Red, black and yellow for Negeri Sembilan
• Black and white for Pahang

This design forms the basis of the Federation of Malaya's national emblem along with the guardian tigers and a quartered shield of the same, symbolic four colours mentioned above.

The phrase "Dipelihara Allah" was also adopted as the current state motto for Selangor.

In addition to a state flag, the Federated Malay States also had a naval jack or ensign for use on government ships. The ensign, with the four colours of the FMS, was flown by HMS Malaya, commanded by Captain Boyle under the 5th Battle Squadron of the British Grand Fleet) during the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea. This was the only full-scale clash of battleships during World War I.

From 1896 to 1936, real power lay in the hands of the Resident-General, later known as Chief Secretary of the Federation.

After 1936 the Federal Secretaries were no more than co-ordinating officers, under the authority of the High Commissioners, which are always the Governors of the Straits Settlements

In the Federated Malay States, the individual state were still ruled by rulers (a yamtuan in Negeri Sembilan and sultans elsewhere) but was now advised by the State Council for the purpose of administrating the state. The State Council was made up of the Resident (or in certain cases by the Secretary to the Resident), native chiefs, and representative(s) of the Chinese community nominated by the Sultan. The council discussed matters of interest for each respective state such as legislative and administrative issues as well as revision of all sentence of capital punishment. The Resident and his staff (mostly consist of European and Malay) carried on with the administrative work.

• 1875–1876 James Guthrie Davidson (1837–1891)
• 1876–1882 William Bloomfield Douglas (1822–1906)
• 1882–1884 Frank Athelstane Swettenham (1850–1946)
• 1884–1888 John Pickersgill Rodger (1st time, acting, 1851–1910)
• 1889–1892 William Edward Maxwell (1846–1897)
• 1892–1896 William Hood Treacher (1849–1919)
• 1896–1902 John Pickersgill Rodger (2nd time, 1851–1910)
• 1902–1910 Henry Conway Belfield (1855–1923)
• 1910–1913 Reginald George Watson (1862–1926)
• 1913–1919 Edward George Broadrick (1864–1929)
• 1919–1921 Arthur Henry Lemon (1864–1933)
• 1921–1926 Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor (1872–1940)
• 1926–1927 Henry Wagstaffe Thomson (1874–1941)
• 1927–1930 James Lornie (1876–1959)
• 1930–1933 G. E. Cater (1884–1973)
• 1933–1935 George Ernest London (1889– 1957)
• 1935–1937 Theodore Samuel Adams (1885–1961)
• 1937–1939 Stanley Wilson Jones (1888–1962)
• 1939–1941 George Montgomery Kidd
• 1941 Norman Rowlstone Jarrett (acting, 1889–1982)

• 1874–1875 James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875)
• 1876–1877 James Guthrie Davidson
• 1877–1889 Hugh Low (Sir Hugh Low from 1883, 1824–1905)
• 1889–1896 Frank Athelstane Swettenham (1850–1946)
• 1896–1902 William Hood Treacher (1849–1919)
• 1902–1903 John Pickersgill Rodger (1851–1910)
• 1905–1910 Ernest Woodford Birch (1857–1929)
• 1910–1912 Henry Conway Belfield (1855–1923)
• 1912–1913 William James Parke Hume (1st time, acting, 1866–1952)
• 1913–1919 Reginald George Watson (1862–1926)
• 1919–1920 George Maxwell (1871–1959)
• 1920–1921 William James Parke Hume (2nd time, 1866–1952)
• 1921–1926 Cecil William Chase Parr (1871–1943)
• 1926–1927 Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor (1872–1940)
• 1927–1929 Henry Wagstaffe Thomson (1874–1941)
• 1929–1930 Charles Walter Hamilton Cochrane (1876–1932)
• 1931–1932 Bertram Walter Elles (1877–1963)
• 1932–1939 G. E. Cater (1884–1973)
• 1939–1941 Marcus Rex (1886–1971)

• 1888–1891 Martin Lister (1st time, 1857–1897)
• 1891–1894 W. F. B. Paul
• 1894–1895 Robert Norman Bland (1859–1948)
• 1895–1897 Martin Lister (2nd time, 1859–1948)
• 1898–1901 Ernest Woodford Birch (1857–1929)
• 1901–1902 Henry Conway Belfield (1855–1923)
• 1902–1903 Walter Egerton (1858–1947)
• 1904–1910 Douglas Graham Campbell (1867–1918)
• 1910–1911 Richard James Wilkinson (1867–1941)
• 1912–1919 Arthur Henry Lemon (1864–1933)
• 1919–1921 John Richard Oliver Aldworth (acting)
• 1921–1925 Edward Shaw Hose (1871–1946)
• 1925–1928 Ernest Charteris Holford Wolff (1875–1946)
• 1928–1932 James William Simmons (1877–19XX)
• 1932–1937 John Whitehouse Ward Hughes (1883–19XX)
• 1937–1939 Gordon Lupton Ham (1885–1965)
• 1939–1941 John Vincent Cowgill (1888–1959)

• 1888–1896 John Pickersgill Rodger (1851–1910)
• 1896–1900 Hugh Clifford (1st time, 1866–1941)
• 1900–1901 Arthur Butler (18XX–1901)
• 1901–D. H. Wise (acting)
• 1901–1903 Hugh Clifford (2nd time, 1866–1941)
• 1905–1908 Cecil Wray
• 1908–1909 Harvey Chevallier (acting)
• 1909–1910 Edward Lewis Brockman (1865–1943)
• 1910–1911 Warren Delabere Barnes (1865–1911)
• 1911–1917 Edward John Brewster (1861–1931)
• 1917–1921 Cecil William Chase Parr (1871–1943)
• 1921–1923 F. A. S. McClelland (acting) (1873–1947)
• 1923–1925 Henry Wagstaffe Thomson (1874–1941)
• 1926–1928 Arthur Furley Worthington (1874–1964)
• 1928–1930 C. F. J. Green
• 1930–1935 Hugh Goodwin Russell Leonard (1880–19XX)
• 1935–1941 C. C. Brown

For the purpose of efficient administration, all the states of the federation were further divided into districts (Malay: Daerah). Each district was administered by a District Office (Malay: Pejabat Daerah) headed by a District Officer (Malay: Pegawai Daerah).^[3]

State capital: Ipoh, Perak

Districts:

• Hulu Perak (Upper Perak)
• Selama
• Larut
• Kerian
• Matang
• Kuala Kangsar
• Kinta
• Hilir Perak (Lower Perak)
• Batang Padang

Notes:

• Dinding and Pangkor Island were ceded to the British, administered as part of the Straits Settlements and were returned to the government of Perak in February 1935.^[4]
• The capital of Perak was moved to Ipoh in 1935.

State capital: Kuala Lumpur (also served as the federal capital cum administrative centre)

Districts:

• Hulu Selangor
• Kuala Selangor
• Kuala Lumpur
• Klang
• Hulu Langat
• Kuala Langat

State capital: Seremban

Districts:

• Seremban
• Port Dickson (coastal district)
• Jelebu
• Kuala Pilah
• Tampin

State capital: Kuala Lipis

Districts:

• Lipis
• Raub
• Bentong
• Temerloh
• Kuantan
• Pekan

The first Supreme Court was established in 1906 and headed by the Judicial Commissioner, in whom supreme judicial authority was vested. The title of Judicial Commissioner was changed to Chief Judge in 1925.

• Lawrence Colvile Jackson
• 1913–1917 Sir Thomas de Multon Lee Braddell
• 1919–1920 Sir G. Aubrey Goodman
• 1920 Sir John Robert Innes (acting)
• 1921–1925 Sir Lionel Mabbot Woodward

• 1925–1929 Sir Henry Hessey Johnston Gompertz
• 1929–1932 Sir Lancelot Henry Elphinstone
• 1933–1937 Sir Samuel Joyce Thomas^[5]
• 1937–1939 Sir Roger Evans Hall ^[6]
• 1939–1941 Kenneth Elliston Poyser
• 1941–c.1945 Sir Harry Herbert Trusted

The Federated Malay States initially used the Straits dollar issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency for the Straits Settlements. As the currency depreciated over time, it was pegged at two shillings four sterling pence in 1906. In 1939, the British government introduced a new currency, the Malayan dollar (ringgit in Malay) for used in Malaya and Brunei replacing the Straits dollar at par value. It had denominations ranging from 1 cent to 1,000 Malayan dollars.

The Federated Malay States main economic activities were agriculture and mining with emphasis on rubber and tin. The FMS and Malaya as a whole was the main supplier of these two commodities for British industrial needs. Rubber plantations were established in all four states and tin was mined primarily in the Klang valley in Selangor and the Kinta Valley in Perak. This labour-intensive economic activities prompted the British to bring in immigrant workers from southern India to work at the plantations and workers from southern China to mine the tin.

The economic condition in the period can be viewed as self-sustainable, as the income of the federation was more than what was expended in terms of maintaining the administration and economic activities. In the later period, many resources were put into the development of Kuala Lumpur, as the capital of the federation. This period also saw rapid growth in terms of communications infrastructure such as interstate roads, the expansion of the Federated Malay States Railways' narrow gauge railway line between the Padang Besar and Singapore, and Port Swettenham (present-day Port Klang). Public schools and academic institutions were also opened along with an improvement in public health. An area in the city was also gazetted as a settlement for the Malay called Kampung Baru. Public buildings were also constructed such as the Kuala Lumpur railway station, the Government Offices of the FMS and Masjid Jamek.

The table and section below illustrated the economic growth of the federation and its member states.

^{Note: All values are in Straits dollars (One dollar fixed at two shillings and four pence sterling). Data for Pahang included only from 1890 onwards.}

^{Ref: Harrison, Cuthbert Woodville. An Illustrated Guide to the Federated Malay States. 1923.}

The revenue of Selangor in 1875 amounted to $115,656; in 1905 it had increased to $8,857,793. Of this latter sum $3,195,318 was derived from duty on exported tin, $1,972,628 from finance, federal receipts, and $340,360 from land revenue. The trade balance was chiefly derived from the revenue farms, which included the right to collect import duty on opium and spirits. The expenditure for 1905 amounted to $7,186,146, of which sum $3,717,238 was on account of federal charges and $1,850,711 for public works. The value of the imports in 1905 was $24,643,619 and that of the exports was $26,683,316, making a total of $51,326,935 equivalent to £5,988,000. Tin was the principal export. The amount exported in 1905 was 17,254 tons. The total area of alienated mining land at the end of 1905 amounted to 65,573 acres (265 km²).

The revenue of Perak in 1874 amounted to $226,333. That for 1905 amounted to $12,242,897. Of this latter sum $4,876,400 was derived from duty on exported tin, $2,489,300 from railway receipts, $505,300 from land revenue and $142,800 from postal and telegraphic revenue. The remainder is mainly derived from the revenue farms, which are leased for a short term of years, conveying to the lessee the right to collect import duties upon opium, wine and spirits, to keep pawnbroking shops, and to keep public licensed gambling-houses for the use of non-Malay only. The expenditure for 1905 amounted to $10,141,980. Of this sum $4,236,000 was spent on railway upkeep and construction and $2,176,100 on public works. The value of the imports into Perak during 1905 was over $20,000,000, and that of the exports exceeded $40,000,000, making a total of over $60,000,000, equivalent to about seven million sterling. The output of tin from Perak ranged between 18,960 tons, valued at $23,099,506 in 1899, and 26,600 tons, valued at $35,500,000, in 1905. The fluctuating output figure was due to the uncertainty of the labour supply. The mining population was recruited exclusively from the districts of southern China, and during certain years an increased demand for labourers in China itself, in French Indo-China, in the Dutch colonies, and in South Africa temporarily and adversely affected immigration to the Straits of Malacca. The output had, moreover, been affected from time to time by the price of tin, which was $32.20 per pikul in 1896, rose to $42.96 in 1898, to $74.15 in 1900, and averaged $80.60 in 1905. Excluding tin, the principal exports were $108,000 worth of Para rubber, $181,000 of copra, $54,000 of hides, $48,000 of patchouli, and considerable quantities of timber, rattans and other jungle produce.

The revenue of the Negri Sembilan amounted to $223,435 in 1888. In 1898 it had increased to $701,334, in 1900 to $1,251,366, and in 1905 to $2,335,534. The revenue for 1905 was derived mainly as follows: customs $1,268,602, land revenue $145,475, land sales $21,407, while the revenue farms contributed $584,459. The expenditure in 1905 amounted to $2,214,093, of which $1,125,355 was spent on public works. The trade returns for 1905, which are not, however, complete, showed an aggregate value of about $13,000,000. The value of the tin exported during 1905 exceeded $6,900,000, and the value of the agricultural produce, of which gambier represented $211,000 and damar $80,000, amounted to $407,990.

The revenue of Pahang in 1899 amounted to $62,077; in 1900 to $419,150. In 1905 it was $528,368. The expenditure in 1905 amounted to $1,208,176. Of this sum $736,886 was spent on public works. Pahang is still a source of expense to the federation, its progress having been slowed by the disturbances which lasted from December 1891 until 1895, with short intervals of peace, but the revenue was steadily increasing, and the ultimate financial success of the state is considered to be secure. Pahang owed something over $3,966,500 to Selangor and $1,175,000 to Perak, which had financed it for some years out of surplus revenue. The value of the imports in 1905 was $1,344,346, that of the exports was $3,838,928, thus making a total trade value of $5,183,274. The most valuable export is tin, the value of which in 1905 amounted to $2,820,745. The value of the gutta exported exceeded $140,000, that of dried and salted fish amounted to nearly $70,000, and that of timber to $325,000.

With the threat of Germany, the British Navy was in a drive for expansion. As a contribution, the government and people of the Federated Malay States agreed to finance the commissioning of HMS Malaya; this was a motion proposed in the Federal Council by the Sultan of Perak in 1913 and supported by the Sultan of Selangor. The battleship which cost $25,000,000 (approximately £2,945,709) was one of five of the Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, displacing 31,000 tons, mounting fifteen-inch guns and capable of 25 knots (46 km/h). The most modern ships of their day, they formed the 5th Battle Squadron and fought as such at Jutland in 1916. HMS Malaya was also refurbished and was in service throughout World War II.^{[citation needed]}

After the Japanese landed in Malaya on 8 December 1941, the Japanese forces began their invasion of the Malay Peninsula. Japanese forces began their invasion of the FMS by crossing the Thailand–FMS border at Kroh. Ipoh, the state capital of Perak, fell on 26 December 1941. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States and the State of Selangor, was captured on 11 January 1942. Seremban, the state capital of Negeri Sembilan, was captured two days later. Kuantan, in the eastern component state of Pahang, fell on 30 December 1941, meanwhile the capital, Kuala Lipis was taken by the Japanese on 7 January 1942. With the conclusion of the Battle of Gemas on 15 January 1942, the entire FMS was now in Japanese hands.

All of Malaya including Singapore remained under Japanese occupation until the surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945.

The federation was formally dissolved on 1 April 1946, and was incorporated into the Malayan Union thereafter. This in turn was succeeded by the Federation of Malaya in 1948, which gained independence in 1957, and later became Malaysia in 1963.

While the four states issued their own postage stamps as before, there were additional issues for the Federated States as a whole.

• Unfederated Malay States
• Malay states
• The Straits Settlements
• Federated Malay States Railway
• HMS Malaya
• Pangkor Treaty of 1874
• Federated Malay States Appeals Order in Council, 1912

• Harrison, Cuthbert Woodville. An Illustrated Guide to the Federated Malay States. 1923
• George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers © Purdue University
• Benfield, H. Conway. Handbook of The Federated Malay States sabrizain.org Retrieved 23 January 2018.

3°09′35″N 101°42′00″E / 3.1597°N 101.7000°E / 3.1597; 101.7000