The public bureaucracy: An analytical overview

Malaysia’s administrative system in general and the institution of public bureaucracy in particular evolved over centuries and was shaped by its colonial history on the one hand and the unique sociocultural and institutional setting of the nation on the other. It is undeniable that the fifteenth-century Malacca Sultanate and the autonomous rulers that governed much of the Malay Peninsula prior to the advent of the European powers did have a significant influence on the development of administrative institutions. Equally important was the influence of the local sociocultural and political environment. But it was during the British rule (1824–1957) when the foundations of modern administration and governance were laid.