Since the British government’s take over, the social system of the Malay society began to change. The British government’s more effective laws now replace the laws set up by the Malay empire.
The British government had full control over the political and economic power. The Sultan only became the symbol of the Malay society then. The Sultan now only take charge of matters that concern the Malay society and Islamic matters, since the British had total power over the political and economic arena.
This drastic change has slowly withdrew the power the upper class had and slowly both classes were at somewhat the same living standards and status.