The Unfederated Malay States were a group of states in the Malay Peninsula that did not join the Federated Malay States. These states included Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu. They maintained a degree of autonomy and were governed directly by their sultans, with British advisors providing guidance on certain matters. Unlike the Federated Malay States, which were unified under a central administration, the Unfederated Malay States operated independently. This arrangement allowed them to retain more control over their internal affairs while still being influenced by British colonial policies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.