It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government to simplify administration.

Sir Harold MacMichael was assigned the task of gathering the Malay state rulers' approval for the Malayan Union in the same month.

[3] The Sultans, the traditional rulers of the Malay states, conceded all their powers to the British Crown except in religious matters.

Malays also wore white bands around their heads, signifying their mourning for the loss of the Sultans' political rights.

They utilised civil disobedience as a means of protest by refusing to attend the installation ceremonies of the British governors.

The British had recognised this problem and took measures to consider the opinions of the major races in Malaya before making amendments to the constitution.