In 1511, it was the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch in 1641 after a fierce battle. In 1795, when the Netherlands was captured during the Napoleonic Wars Malaysia was given to the British to prevent it falling to the French. It was returned to the Dutch in 1818 under the treaty of Vienna but was later exchanged by the British for Bangkahulu, Sumatra. From 1826 until the Second World War, the British reigned over Malaysia and various other countries in the area.

Each new empire brought with it new ideas and new religious influences and so, Malaysia found itself in constant turmoil over drastic religious affiliations from Buddhism, to Christianity and finally; Islam, its...