Deals, Datus and Dayaks: Sarawak and Brunei in the Making of Malaysia

by Michael Leigh

This book tells the story of Malaysia's formation and its early struggle for survival. A treasure trove of recently de-classified records from the UK National Archives and the US Consulate in Kuching, demonstrate how the British, Singapore and Malayan governments seized upon the Brunei revolt, and Indonesian attacks across the Sarawak border, to justify their extensive use of coercive measures against the strongest opponents of the federation proposal, and to reinforce strong messaging that forming Malaysia was the best available future for Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore too.
Despite all those efforts, new archival evidence shows how the political situation in Sarawak almost caused Malaysia to be aborted at the last minute. The book then goes on to document how strong international and internal pressures throughout 1964 and 1965 meant that survival of Malaysia was in doubt.

Genres: Politics

92 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2018

About the author

Bachelor's Degree from University of Melbourne.
Ph.D from University of Cornell.

Taught at Universities of Sydney ad Melbourne for 35 years, plus at Cornell University, USA, Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Syiah Kuala in Indonesia and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

President of Asian Studies Association, Australia (2007)

Reviews

[Khairul Hezry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newly declassified documents show that the path to forming the Federation of Malaysia wasn't as simple as it was made out to to be. Many in Sarawak and Brunei were reluctant or skeptical of a Malaysia ruled from Kuala Lumpur. One major factor that changed the minds of the nay sayers was Indonesia's Konfrantasi which ironically was meant to scuttle the idea of a Malaysia. So, thanks Sukarno!

[Aurelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every Sarawakians should read.

[Aizat Affendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential historical read for anyone interested in Sarawak and Brunei’s political development. Some chapters were dense, but the insights into Malaysia’s formation politics, one in which my grandfather and his brothers were involved in, made it worthwhile. It gave me a better appreciation of Borneo’s complexity, in its struggle for independence.