Malaya /məˈleɪ.ə/ noun3 •(historical) A peninsula and geographic region of Southeast Asia constituting the southern part of the Malay Peninsula and several nearby islands, currently forming the western part of Malaysia; now known as West Malaysia or Peninsular Malaysia. •(historical) A group of former British colonies and protectorates in Southeast Asia, existing on the southern part of the Malay Peninsula from 1826 to 1957, excepting the period of Japanese occupation during World War II; in full, British Malaya. •(historical) A former colony and later a former independent country in Southeast Asia, existing on the southern part of the Malay Peninsula from 1948 to 1963; independent from 1957 and merged in 1963 with the territories of East Malaysia, forming modern Malaysia; in full, Federation of Malaya.
