Original sentence: During this period, some Straits Chinese began taking an active interest in local politics, especially in Penang, where there was an active Chinese secessionist movement.They identified themselves more with the British than the Malays and were especially angered by references to them as pendatang asing ("aliens")
Edited sentence: During this period, many Straits Chinese began taking an active interest in local politics to serve the interests of their own ethnic community, especially in Penang, where there was an active Chinese secessionist movement.They identified themselves more with the British than the Malays and were especially angered by references to them as pendatang asing ("aliens") while they called Malays rural kampong savages