The Administrative Development of Malaya, 1896-1941

" These States are known as the united countries but the matter of union I do not clearly understand. But you are all aware that the States have become friendly, amicably assisting one another. if, however, the four States are amalgamated into one, would it be right to say that one State assisted the other? Assistance implies something more than one: for if there is only one which is the helper and which is the helped? A Malay proverb says that there cannot be two masters in one vessel. Neither can there be four Rulers over one country. It is my hope that the affairs of each State may be managed by its own officers so that the Governments may be separate entities."

[ Speech by Sultan Idris of Perak on the occasion of the second Durbar of Rulers held in Kuala Lumpur in July 1903 ]