| dc.description.abstract | In the middle of the 19th century, in response to the development of the mining and plantation industry in Malaya, a great number of Chinese labourers migrated to Malaya in search of working opportunity. They didn’t integrate into other races in Malaya, but maintained their own cultures, customs when they started their new life in Malaya. When the masses congregated corresponding leadership and administration was needed. Therefore, the Chinese in Malaya formed a self-governing society, which means they ruled in their own way. The Capitan in Kuala Lumpur was the Chinese leader, and the secret society was the ruling organization. The Capitan was also the leader of secret society, thus, the combination of the two identities constituted a solid power structure. Although the British colonial government implemented the residential system, they implemented indirect rule for the Chinese by appointing the Capitan to govern the Chinese. The social problems of Chinese, for instance, arguments of interest between the employers and employees, consumption of opium by Chinese labourers, abduction of women, and the affrays of the secret society caught the attention of British colonial government. Consequently, the British colonial government changed its policy to direct rule and passed a law that required problems to be solved by decisions of the court. The Chinese protector was appointed to enforce the law, and formed the bridge of communication between the Chinese and British as well. The laws that were passed and the solving problem through decisions of the court indicated the change from self-governance to the rule of law. In other words, the ruling policy of the Chinese had changed from indirect rule to direct rule. Based on the framework above, the Chinese in Kuala Lumpur were made the subject matter for the study of the effects of changing from self-governance to the rule of law. In addition, the way the British colonial government governed the Chinese was also taken into consideration.
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