Sir Harold Alfred MacMichael GCMG DSO (15 October 1882[1] – 19 September 1969)[2][3] was a British colonial administrator who served as High Commissioner for Palestine.

In the last, both he and his wife narrowly escaped death in an ambush that the Stern Gang had mounted on 8 August 1944, on the eve of his replacement as High Commissioner.

MacMichael, who had completed his stint as High Commissioner of the British Mandate of Palestine, was empowered to sign official treaties with the Malay rulers over the Malayan Union proposal scheme.

The Sultan quickly consented to MacMichael's proposal scheme, which was motivated by his strong desire to visit England at the end of the year.

Many Malay rulers expressed strong reluctance in signing the treaties with MacMichael, partly because they feared the loss of their royal status and the prospect of their states falling into Thai political influence.

[8] The treaties provided that the British had full administrative powers over the Malay states except in areas pertaining to Islamic customs.