Malaysian Standard Time

Malaysian Standard Time (MST) is a standard time used in Malaysia after Japan formally surrendered in Singapore after their occupation in British Malaya. It was then referred to as the British Malayan Standard Time (as well as Singapore Standard Time) prior to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. The local mean time in Kuala Lumpur is 0600:46:48hrs. West Malaysia used local mean time until 1880, when they changed to Singapore mean time 0600:55:24.

Time changing chronicles

Time in West Malaysia

The local mean time in Kuching is 0700:21:20. Sabah and Sarawak used local mean time until 1926. They then changed to 0700:30. In 1933, when West Malaysia changed to 0700:20, they changed to 0800:00, with a 20-minute time change between September 14 and December 14. During the Japanese occupation, Tokyo time was used, before changing back to 8:00, but without the daylight saving time, in 1945.

 Zone Asia/Kuching 7:21:20 - LMT 1926 Mar 7:30 - BORT 1933 # Borneo Time 8:00 NBorneo BOR%sT 1942 9:00 - JST 1945 Sep 2 8:00 - BORT 1982 May 8:00 - MYT 

 # Rule NAME FROM TO TYPE IN ON AT SAVE LETTER/S Rule NBorneo 1935 1941 - Sep 14 0:00 0:20 TS Rule NBorneo 1935 1941 - Dec 14 0:00 0 - 

The daylight saving time from September 14 to December 14 is very interesting. On November 3, the equation of time reaches a maximum of 16m 25s. This seems to be an attempt at reducing the variation in the time of the sunrise by looking at how the analemma rises in the tropics.

History

• Prior to 1st Jan, 1901 - locations in British Malaya with an Astronomical Observatory would adopt the local mean time based on the Observatory's geographical position. Penang, Malacca and Singapore all had their own observatories; hence, the three Straits Settlements had their respective Local Mean Time, with minutes of differences amongst the three locations.
• 1920 - In 1920, a bill was introduced in the Straits Settlements’ Legislative Council to adopt “Daylight Saving Time” just like in England. The proposed time was 30 min forward of the mean time of the 105th meridian, i.e. 0730 hours ahead of GMT. The reason for proposing this was to allow more leisure time for the labourers after work. Unfortunately, this bill was dropped after the first reading.
• 1901 - On 1st Jan 1901, Singapore's Local Mean Time (Singapore Mean Time) was adopted by the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States as the Standard Time. This was introduced because railway, postal and telegraphic services were becoming more common and a single standard time will ease scheduling problems. Singapore was chosen because it was the administrative HQ for the SS and the FMS then.
• 1905 - On 1st June 1905, the mean time of the 105th Meridian (Longitude 105 degrees East) was adopted by the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States as the new Standard Time. This decision was made way back in February, 1904. The mean time of the 105th meridian is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (i.e. the Local Mean Time over Greenwich Royal Observatory near London, England). This Standard Time went into effect when the Time Ball on Fort Canning was completed and became operational on the same day.
• 1932 - 12 years after the 1920 introduction of the “Daylight Saving Bill”, the same bill was reintroduced to the Legislative Council. One of the original reasons for dropping the 1920 Bill was the argument that 30 minutes was too much change. Therefore, in 1932, the proposed shift was reduced by 10 minutes, down to 20 minutes ahead of the mean time of the 105th meridian. This was a compromise, which was perceived to be more acceptable to the overly cautious Legislative Council members. After 2 debating sessions, this Bill was passed and became Ordinance No. 21 of 1932. The short title was Daylight Saving Ordinance, 1932. This was to come into force on the first day of January, 1933, and was to be in force during the year 1933.
• 1933 - 1st Jan 1933, the Daylight Saving Ordinance came into effect on New Year's Day. This Ordinance as passed was in effect for the year 1933 only. Daylight Saving Time was 20 minutes faster than Standard Time, i.e. 0720 hours minutes ahead of GMT.
• 1934-1935 - For the years 1934 and 1935, the Daylight Saving Ordinance, 1932 was extended throughout both years by Gazette Notifications.
• 1935 - In 1935, the Daylight Saving Ordinance, 1932 was amended by Ordinance No. 5 of 1935--The Daylight Saving (Amendment) Ordinance, 1935. The year limit '1933' was removed, turning the ordinance into permanent effect without the need for the Governor to declare any extensions. The time of 0720 hours ahead of GMT became permanent “Standard Time” with this amendment. The Survey Department's 1935 Annual Report advised readers to adjust their clocks appropriately by 20 minutes for the year 1936.
• 1936 - The Daylight Saving Ordinance became Chapter 170 in the 1936 Edition of The Laws of the Straits Settlements.
• 1941 - In 1941, the Daylight Saving Ordinance was amended yet again by Ordinance 33 of 1941. Daylight Saving Time would henceforth be 30 min ahead of the mean time of the 105th meridian (10 min more than the original DST), i.e. 0730 hours ahead of GMT. This came into effect on 1st Sep 1941. Interesting to note that this was the original DST proposed in 1920 and was met with much opposition then.
• 1942 - 16th Feb 1942, Japanese formally occupied British Malaya. British Malayan time moved ahead by 1 hour 30 minutes to conform with Tokyo Standard Time, which is 0900 hours ahead of GMT.
• 1945 - 12th Sep 1945, Japanese formally surrendered in Singapore. British Malayan time reverted to “pre-invasion” standard: 0730 hours ahead of GMT. The exact dates for the change to and from Tokyo Standard Time have not been ascertained yet. The dates given here are based on educated speculation.

Standardisation of time in Malaysia

Malaysia declared that West Malaysia would move their clocks ahead by 30 min to match the time in use in East Malaysia (8 hrs ahead of GMT) in 1981. However many find this to be awkward as most of Malaysians (roughly 80%) live in West Malaysia rather than in East Malaysia. Malaysia is currently in effect running on the equivalent of the usual 'Spring Forward, Autumn Back' type of Daylight Saving Time found in North America and Europe. Such 'normal' DST is usually Standard Zone Time + 1 hour. Malaysia's mathematical Standard Zone Time is 0700 hours, hence the current 0800 hours is = 7 + 1 which is equivalent to the DST during the summer months in the temperate countries. Albeit we are on this DST throughout the year, quite appropriate since we have 'summer' all year round.

Monitor

Malaysian Standard Time is monitored by SIRIM.

References

Time Zones in Malaysia