List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom for Malaya facts for kids

The High Commissioner was a very important person who represented the British government in Malaya a long time ago. This role was first created in 1896. The High Commissioner's job was to look after the interests of the British in the Federated Malay States. These were four states in Malaya that were under British protection.

The High Commissioner lived in a special house called King's House in Kuala Lumpur. This house was a fancy place where important visitors and royal guests would stay. Interestingly, the person who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements (another British area with its capital in Singapore) was also automatically the High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States.

British Advisers in Other States

Besides the Federated Malay States, there were five other states in Malaya that were also under British influence. These were Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Johore. They were often called the 'Unfederated Malay States'.

In each of these states, the British government had a special 'Adviser'. These advisers helped the local rulers and governments. For example, there was an Adviser for Perlis and a General Adviser for Johore.

Changes After World War II

After World War II, big changes happened in Malaya. In 1946, the Straits Settlements was broken up. Singapore became a separate British colony. The other parts of the Straits Settlements, like Penang and Malacca, joined with the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States.

All these areas came together to form a new British colony called the Malayan Union. The local rulers in these states gave up some of their power to the United Kingdom. The Malayan Union was led by a new leader called the Governor of the Malayan Union.

The Federation of Malaya

In 1948, the British government decided to give some power back to the local rulers. The Malayan Union then changed into the Federation of Malaya. This was a group of protected states and British colonies (Penang and Malacca stayed as colonies).

The Federation of Malaya was led by a new person called the High Commissioner for Malaya. This was a very important role in the country.

Malaya Becomes Independent

When Malaya became independent from the United Kingdom in 1957, the role of the High Commissioner for Malaya changed. Malaya no longer needed a British leader. Instead, the country got its own head of state, called the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. This leader is chosen by the rulers of the nine Malay states.

After independence, the title 'High Commissioner' was still used. But it became the title for the most senior British diplomat (like an ambassador) in independent Malaya, and later in Malaysia. This is a common practice among countries in the Commonwealth.

Leaders of Malaya During British Rule

This table shows the important British leaders who served in Malaya, from the High Commissioners of the Federated Malay States to the High Commissioners of Malaya before independence.

Federated Malay States, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya
№	Portrait	Name	Time in Office
			From	Until
High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1896–1946)
1		Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell	01 January 1896	7 December 1899
2		James Alexander Swettenham	8 December 1899	18 February 1901
3		Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham	26 September 1901	12 October 1903
4		Sir John Anderson	15 April 1904	9 April 1911
5		Sir Arthur Henderson Young	9 September 1911	24 August 1920
6		Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard	3 February 1920	5 May 1927
7		Sir Hugh Charles Clifford	3 June 1927	20 October 1930
8		Sir Cecil Clementi	5 February 1930	16 February 1934
9		Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas	9 November 1934	15 August 1945
Japanese occupation of Malaya From 31 January 1942 to 15 August 1945.
British Military Administration (15 August 1945 – 30 March 1946)
Governor of the Malayan Union (1946–1948)
10		Sir Gerard Edward James Gent	1 April 1946	30 January 1948
High Commissioner for Malaya (1948–1957)
11		Sir Gerard Edward James Gent	1 February 1948	4 July 1948
12		Sir Henry Lowell Goldsworthy Gurney	1 October 1948	6 October 1951
13		General Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer	15 January 1952	31 May 1954
14		Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray	31 May 1954	31 August 1957

See also

• Federated Malay States
• Unfederated Malay States
• Straits Settlements
• List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to Malaysia