Unfederated Malay States should not be confused with Federated Malay States.
| Native Name: | Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu (Malay) |
| Conventional Long Name: | Unfederated Malay States |
| Common Name: | Unfederated Malay States |
| Image Map Caption: | Malaya in 1922: |
| Status: | Federal protectorate of the British Empire |
| Era: | British Empire |
| Life Span: | 1909–1942 1942–1945 (Japanese occupation) 1945–1946 |
| Common Languages: | Malay English |
| Currency: | Straits dollar (1909–1939) Malayan dollar (1939–1942; 1945–1946) |
| Religion: | Sunni Islam |
| Government Type: | Constitutional monarchy |
| Title Leader: | Monarch |
| Leader1: | Edward VII |
| Year Leader1: | 1909–1910 (first) |
| Leader2: | George VI |
| Year Leader2: | 1936–1942; 1945–1946 (last) |
| Event Start: | Anglo-Siamese Treaty |
| Date Start: | 9 July |
| Year Start: | 1909 |
| Event End: | Malayan Union |
| Date End: | 1 April |
| Year End: | 1946 |
| Event1: | Japanese occupation |
| Date Event1: | 15 February 1942 – 2 September 1945 |
| Event2: | Japanese surrender |
| Date Event2: | 2 September 1945 |
| P1: | Johor1885: Johore |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Johor.svg |
| P2: | Kedah1909: Kedah |
| Flag P2: | Flag of Kedah (18th century - 1912).svg |
| P3: | Kelantan |
| Flag P3: | Flag of Kelantan (1912 - 1923).svg |
| P4: | Perlis |
| Flag P4: | Flag of Perlis.svg |
| P5: | Terengganu |
| Flag P5: | Flag of Terengganu (1912 - 1933).svg |
| Flag P6: | Flag of Thailand (1782).svg |
| P6: | Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)Rattanakosin Kingdom |
| S1: | Japanese occupation of Malaya1941-42: Japanese occupation of Malaya |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Japan (1870–1999).svg |
| S2: | Si Rat Malai1943: Si Rat Malai |
| Flag S2: | Flag of Thailand.svg |
| S3: | British Military Administration (Malaya)1945: British Military Administration (Malaya) |
| Flag S3: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| S4: | Malayan Union1946: Malayan Union |
| Flag S4: | Flag of the Federated Malay States (1895–1946).svg |
| Today: | Malaysia |
The "Unfederated Malay States" (ms|Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu; Jawi: Malay: نݢري٢ ملايو تيدق برسکوتو) was the collective name given to five British protected states in the Malay Peninsula during the first half of the 20th century. These states were Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu. In contrast with the four adjoining Federated Malay States of Selangor, Perak, Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan, the five Unfederated Malay States lacked common institutions, and did not form a single state in international law; they were in fact standalone British protectorates.
In 1946, the British colony of the Straits Settlements was dissolved. Penang and Malacca, which had formed a part of the Straits Settlements, were then grouped with the Unfederated Malay States and the Federated Malay States to form the Malayan Union. In 1948, the Malayan Union was reconstituted as a federation of eleven states known as the Federation of Malaya. Nine of the states of the new Federation of Malaya continued as British protected states, while two of them, Penang and Malacca, remained as British colonies. The Federation of Malaya gained full independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1957.
Johor accepted a treaty of protection with the United Kingdom in 1885, and eventually succumbed to British pressure to accept a resident "Advisor" in 1914. Unlike the other Malay states under British protection, however, Johor remained outside of the Federated Malay States (formed in 1895).
Under the Bangkok Treaty of 1909, Siam transferred its rights over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis to the United Kingdom.[1] These states then became British protected states. With the assistance of Japan, they temporarily returned to Thai jurisdiction for the latter part of World War II.
The chief officer of the British colonial administration was the "Advisor". In contrast with the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States enjoyed greater autonomy. The de facto official language of the Unfederated Malay States was Malay (written with the Jawi script).