DUTCH INFLUENCE ON MALACCA & THE MALAY STATES

1.2.1 The coming of the Dutch to the East
The starting point of the Dutch’s exploration to the east was the publication of Linschoten’s famous book, the Itinerario, which contained detail information about routes and navigational conditions in eastern waters. The author had meticulously compiled these materials from Portuguese sources during his stay in Goa.
In 1580, Philip II of Spain conquered Portugal and subsequently closed the port of Lisbon to Dutch and English sailors in 1594. Before this, the Dutch had been obtaining spices from Lisbon and when the closure ensued, the Dutch were motivated to go to the East to obtain spices on their own.

The first Dutch expedition under the command of Cornelius van Houtman sailed to the Straits of Malacca, called at Acheh & then went south to the port of Bantam. Then they sailed East to Madura and Bali.

The native states were eager to welcome them for two reasons. The Dutch were rivals of the Portuguese who were enemies of the native states, and any enemy of the Portuguese was welcomed with open arms. The second reason was that any form of rivalry among the European nations increased the demand for the spices and the native states were, therefore, prepared to receive the Dutch wherever they went.
Consequently, more Dutch companies subsidized trading expeditions to the East, and in the years between 1595 and 1601, there were over sixty-five Dutch ships in twenty-two fleets which had embarked on journeys to the East.

However, the Dutch realized that the merchants of Acheh and the Moluccas were steadily increasing the price of the spices by playing off one Dutch fleet against another. The rivalry among the Dutch companies began to have a negative impact on the trade. As a result of this, all Dutch companies were amalgamated into the United Netherlands Chartered East India Company, popularly known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) in 1602. From then on, there existed only one price, which was quoted to all Dutch merchants.

The VOC was much more than a trading company. As the representative of the Government of Netherlands, it was given much sovereign power which encompassed the right to establish colonies, declare war, enter treaties and alliances with native princes and construct fortresses where necessary.

1.2.2 The Relationship between the Dutch and Johor Government
When Malacca fell into the hands of the Portuguese, Sultan Mahmud fled from the state and ventured to Bentan, one of the many islands of Riau. There, he established his new capital and resisted attacks from the Portuguese for a short period.
In 1526, however, he succumbed to their attacks and fled to Kampar, where he finally died. His son, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah II founded the kingdom of Johor and formed his new capital at Kota Tinggi.

After the fall of Malacca, Acheh appeared as an important trading port and strove to expand its empire into the Malay Peninsular and dominate economic and political affairs in the Straits of Malacca. Johor and the Portuguese in Malacca were equally ambitious. Because of this, the three powers were constantly waging battles with one another in what is known as the Triangular War.

When the Dutch first encountered Johor in the seventeenth century, the latter already regarded them as potential allies in its fight against Acheh and the Portuguese.

The Dutch on the other hand, were hoping to gain Johor’s assistance in launching an attack on the Portuguese fort in Malacca.

From the initial stage of the relationship between Johor and the VOC, both parties recognized the mutual benefits of co-operating with one another and consequently signed a treaty of alliance on 17th May 1606, in which Johor was to aid the Dutch in the capture of Malacca from the Portuguese.

If the Dutch succeeded in capturing the Portuguese city, Malacca was to be handed over to them, while the adjoining territories would be given to Johor, on the condition that the Dutch be given the right to extract timber from the jungles in these territories for shipping and defense purposes.

The Dutch were also to be granted a monopoly of trade with Johor and their merchandise free of any duty. To return the favour, the Dutch would allow Johor to obtain certain trading privileges in Malacca, which were denied to all the other local states. Although the Dutch refused to help Johor fight against Acheh, they promised to be the mediator for peace between the two nations should Acheh attack Johor. Following this, Johor and Acheh signed a peace treaty in 1641, which was initiated by the Dutch.

Johor’s assistance to the Dutch did not involve direct fighting with the Portuguese, but came in the form of other means, like the construction of trenches and batteries, the transportation of vital materials, preventing the enemy from fleeing into the jungles and also providing emotional support.

The Dutch attack on Malacca began in August 1640 and lasted for over five months, ending in January 1641.

1.2.3 The Policy Imposed By the Dutch in Malacca and Other Malay States
When the Dutch conquered Malacca, they had already formed their base in Batavia (Jakarta) in 1619. Using Malacca as a trading centre was the least of the many reasons on their minds. What they really wanted was to vanquish Malacca’s status as an international trading port and inadvertently force all merchants to Batavia.
To accomplish this, the Dutch increased tax on ships docking in Malacca. As such, during the Dutch occupation in Malacca, Malacca did not regain its former glory or become a separate trading unit.

When the Dutch opened other small trading posts in Selangor and Perak, Malacca became useful as a supply base.

With their control over Malacca, the Dutch also hoped to diminish any threats of rivalry from the Portuguese and British, by using it as a guardpost to monitor ships plying through the Straits of Malacca.
The Dutch also signed treaties with the Sultan of Perak, Kedah, Ujung Salang and Bangeri, which enabled them to monopolize the trading of tin and weaken the power of the local government and Malacca once again proved useful to control the Malay states abundant with tin.