Penang Administration System

In 1786, Francis Light became the first permanent settlement of the English in the Malay Peninsula. He started the resident-level administrative system and became the first resident under the British Governor's supervision in Bengal. After Francis Light died in 1794, the resident status lowered to Superintendent's rank and later in 1800 to the position of Lieutenant-governor.

After Francis Light died in 1794, the resident status lowered to theSuperintendent'snk of later in 1800 to Lieutenant-governor's position. Even though there are occasional disputes with the ruler of Kedah and the death of Light, a more orderly administrative system has bloomed Penang’s economic and trade development and has convinced the British with its substantial benefits in line to make it a British naval base and trading centre in the east

 

Since then, the East India Company (EIC) has begun to take an interest in Penang. In 1802, Sir George Alexander William Leith, the governor of Penang, increased Penang's area, which the ruler of Kedah gave him about ten thousand dollars a year. The expansion is on a district opposite the island, which is eighteen miles long and three miles abroad. The name of the district is the Province Wellesley, taken from the Governor-General of India at that time.

  

                             

Due to the advancement of Penang, the administrative status of Penang was elevated to the level of Presidency in 1805, which was established by the British Presidents in India and the Court of Directors in England like in Bengal, Bombay and Madras. It is also must be noted that after Penang became Presidency, the governor in council has amended the laws in the Malay settlements based on India's rules and regulations.

In 1826, the Straits Settlement was formed by the EIC and Penang became the Settlements' capital. However, this situation has further burdened the Penang Presidency as the presidency was too costly to administer and burdened the British government, whose administrative expenses continue to rise beyond its income.

Painting of Brown's Glugor Estate in Penang Museum

Then, in 1830, the presidency of Strait Settlements was reduced to a residency of the Presidency of Bengal, which was under the governor-general of India based in Calcutta by East India Company.

All legislation except for the local regulations remained in the hands of the Governor-general of India in council. Magisterial powers were also implemented as in India to collect the revenue and maintain the peace, though the recorder remained in the chief judicial functionary.

Singapore then became the Capital of Malay settlements in 1832. At once, the control of settlements changed to a resident in Singapore, and the recorder's court seat was removed from Penang to Singapore. As a residency, some arrangements were made which Calcutta, India became the place for all administrative decisions and legislations concerning the Straits Settlements.

The direct control over the Straits Settlements was transferred to India's Governor-general from the Bengal presidency in 1851. On 1 April 1867, the management was transferred to the Colonial Office in London for the Straits Settlements to become a crown colony under direct British.

On 10 August 1866, the Law to transfer the Straits Settlements' administration to the Colonial Office was passed, and this placed the Straits Settlements directly under the administration of the British Colonial Office in London which at once has ended the administration of EIC.

The Administration of Muslim Affairs in Penang

Since Francis Light became the first governor of Penang in 1786, Penang's law was based on the English Law, which also refers to the general law. The English Law has allowed local people to practice their laws related to religious matters as in the First Charter of Justice in 1800 that acknowledge the implementation of the Muslim and Hindu laws.

There is also a system that allows the Muslim community to interact with the British government; called the "Malay Capitan" if there is a problem in the community.  Later in 1880, the first constitutional law concerning Muslim marriages and divorces was enacted, named Mohammedan Marriage Ordinance No.V/1880.

Indian Muslims in Penang

References:

Arkib Negara Malaysia. “Presidensi Pulau Pinang Dibubarkan.” PeKhabar, March 25, 2018. https://pekhabar.com/presidensi-pulau-pinang-dibubarkan/.

H., Stephens Morse. “The Administrative History of the British Dependencies in the Further East.” The American Historical Review, 1899. https://doi.org/10.1086/ahr/4.2.246.

Mansor Majdin, Mohammad Firdaus. “The Administration of Muslim Affairs in the Straits Settlements during the 19th Century.” IIUM Journal of Religion and Civilisational Studies (IJECS), 2018. https://journals.iium.edu.my/irkh/index.php/ijrcs/article/view/25

The Straits Times. “Terms and Conditions of Use.” S. S. Has Been Crown Colony For 72 Years, April 3, 1939. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19390403-1.2.87. 

Turnbull, C. M. The Straits Settlements 1826-67: Indian Presidency to Crown Colony. London, United Kingdom: the University of London, The Athlone Press, 1972.