The Political Implication of the Bangkok Treaty of 1909 on Kelantan

Abstract

Signed on 10 March 1909 and ratified on 9 July 1909, the Anglo-Siamese Treaty marked a pivotal moment in Southeast Asian history, as it ceded control of four Northern Malay states—Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis—to Britain. This treaty had far-reaching implications for the political sovereignty, economic stability, and territorial integrity of these states, particularly Kelantan. This paper examines the treaty’s specific effects on Kelantan, focusing on its political and territorial changes, and the broader historical context leading to its signing. The study uses archival research and secondary sources to analyse how the treaty diminished Kelantan’s political power, as it lost sovereignty to British control. Post-treaty, Kelantan’s internal affairs came under British supervision, while Siam relinquished its claims over the state. In territorial terms, Kelantan lost parts of its northern regions along the Sungai Golok to Siam but gained areas in Southern Legeh. The treaty also fostered growing sentiments of Malay nationalism and Muslim separatism, particularly among those in the northern regions who retained strong cultural and historical ties to Kelantan. This resistance to foreign influence and the long-term political consequences of the treaty shaped Kelantan’s evolving identity and local political dynamics, underscoring its enduring impact on the region.