1940
| Currency Rate to USD | 1.83 |
| GDP Per Capita (USD) | 78 |
| Population (millions) | 5.2 |
| Nasi Lemak Price | 15 cents |
| Teh Tarik Price | 9 cents |
| Urban Population Percentage | 17% |
British Colonial Era
Under British rule, life for folks in Malaya meant working the plantations, mining tin and rubber, crowded immigrant labour, sharp ethnic divisions, limited political voice.
World War II
A truly global conflict where the decisions made in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific reverberated everywhere.
Founding of the Malayan Nature Society
The Malayan Nature Society was established in 1940 amid growing concerns over biodiversity loss in British colonial Malaya, founded by key naturalists including Edward Oswald Shebbeare and Edred John Henry Corner, with the launch of the Malayan Nature Journal marking its official inception as Malaysia's first organized environmental organization.
Establishment of Kinta Rubber Works in Ipoh
In 1940, the Kinta Rubber Works was established in Ipoh, Perak, becoming the first manufacturer of rubber products in British Malaya, transitioning the region from exporting raw latex to local processing amid rising pre-World War II demand.
Founding of Lam Eng Rubber Company
The founding of Lam Eng Rubber Company in 1940 in Sungai Petani, Kedah, marked a key addition to British Malaya's natural rubber processing industry, enhancing local value addition amid the global demand for rubber during World War II.
Printing of New Malayan Dollar Banknotes by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, 1940
In 1940, the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya, oversaw the printing of the inaugural Malayan dollar banknotes in the United Kingdom, marking a key step in unifying the region's currency.
Formation of the 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade
On 8 September 1940, amid escalating World War II tensions, the British divided the Malaya Infantry Brigade into the 1st and 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigades to strengthen defenses in Malaya against potential Japanese aggression.
Establishment of the Chinese High School in Batu Pahat, Johor
In 1940, the Overseas Chinese School was founded in Batu Pahat, Johor, as a private secondary institution providing Chinese-medium education to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage of the local Chinese community amid British colonial rule.
Placement of Malaya Command under British Far East Command
On 18 November 1940, Britain established the British Far East Command in Singapore and subordinated Malaya Command to it, unifying military defenses across Southeast Asia in response to rising Japanese aggression during World War II.
Second Malay Congress
The Second Malay Congress, held in Singapore in December 1940, was a significant gathering organized by the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) that united Malay nationalist groups to address economic marginalization, cultural preservation, and resistance to British colonial policies in Malaya.
