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Federated Malay States

The Federated Malay States (FMS, , Jawi: ) was a federation of four integrated protectorates in the Malay Peninsula comprising Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. It was established in 1895 by the British government and lasted until 1946. In that year, these states joined with two of the former Straits Settlements (Malacca and Penang, excluding Singapore) and the Unfederated Malay States to form the Malayan Union. The union was short-lived and in 1948 was replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which gained independence in 1957. This federation later became Malaysia in 1963 following the inclusion of North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore. Singapore was eventually separated from Malaysia and became a sovereign state on 9 August 1965.

Unlike the Unfederated Malay States, which retained greater internal autonomy, the real authority in the FMS resided with the four British Residents and the Resident-General. The powers of the local rulers were significantly restricted and were largely confined to matters "touching Malay religion and customs". The administration of the FMS represented a more centralised and interventionist colonial governance model in contrast to the comparatively decentralised arrangements in the Unfederated States. Nevertheless, the FMS remained nominally more autonomous than the Straits Settlements, which were directly governed by Britain through its Governor.

During World War II, the federation, along with the Unfederated Malay States and the Straits Settlements, was invaded and occupied by Japanese forces which culminated in the Fall of Singapore. After the Japanese surrender and the liberation of Malaya, the original federation was not reinstated. However, the federal model it had introduced remained influential and provided the administrative framework for the Federation of Malaya formed in 1948 and for the eventual creation of Malaysia in 1963. Provided by Wikipedia