Social impact of Japanese occupation.

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The British began rounding up leaders and members of the Malay pro-Japanese organization, Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM), after the British intelligence had uncovered secret links between KMM & Japanese military intelligence.

The Japanese 25th army was preoccupied with the tasks of purifying the population and establishing law and order. This led to the widespread of looting & crime. Japanese began to enforce order by executions - offenders were shot and beheaded on the spot, heads displayed on pikes at prominent places in the city, e.g. marketplaces. This served as a warning to the public. By 3rd March, a total of 70699 "anti-Japanese" Chinese had been detained.

British defence on the mainland were rapidly crumbling as states were overrun by Japanese troops. They found out that Malays were actively collaborating with the Japanese forces by acting as their guides and interpreters, which were mainly members of KMM worked for Fujiwara Kikan (Japanese military intelligence agency). This marked the beginning of British disenchantment with the Malays. The British then forced the Sultans to leave. British distrust of Malays persisted right through the war to the time of their reoccupation of Malaya.

The Japanese governed Malaya as a single integrated colony under the one supreme government headed by the Malayan Military Administration (MMA) in Singapore. This reduced the high and respected status of the Malay Sultans to that of minor officials. Sultans also lost part of their authority over matters concerning the Islamic religion until 1943-1944. These responsibilities had been left entirely in their hands during pre-war days. Stipends of the Sultans were also cut. On the other hand, the Sultans under the British rule then get to enjoy the prestige of being the heads of their states. This gave the Sultans a sense of authority.

However, the Japanese were pro-Malay, and discriminated other races. This was evident from the example of the rise in number of Malay officials. There were difference in treatments led the masses to feel at the losing end. Hence, they resented the Japanese rule, and wished to stand up and fight for independence. The Malayan Chinese collected large sums of money to help China against Japanese, and boycotted purchase of Japanese goods. With JO in February 1941, many Chinese activists joined underground anti-Japanese movement. Worst still, most officers from the Japanese troop that invaded Malaya were veterans of the Sino-Jap war. (Rape of Nanking). This led to aggressive Chinese resistance against Japanese in Singapore , and they wanted to stand up against Japanese to seek better lives. 

There were poor public health services during the Japanese rule. Hospitals were looted for medical supplies by Japanese army. Preventive measures against diseases neglected, causing a widespread in diseases as they were not controlled. JO brought serious effect on the health status of people in Malaya. For instance, malaria, beriberi and cholera spread widely throughout peninsular. There were limited food resource and lack of nutritious food, which worsened the health of people. This caused the death rates from malnutrition increased sharply. Japanese forces seized food supplies and medicines to be used by soldiers, medicines not sent to clinics. Doctors and nurses were sent to camp prisoners, and there was no one to tend to the sick.