The Gift of Rain is set during the late stages of the British colonial presence in Malaysia. The British presence in Malaysia began in the late 18th century, driven by the strategic and economic interests of the British East India Company (EIC). In 1786, Captain Francis Light acquired Penang Island (an important setting in the novel) from the Sultan of Kedah, establishing it as a trading post. This was followed by the founding of Singapore in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles and the acquisition of Malacca from the Dutch in 1824, further solidifying British influence in the region. These territories—Penang, Malacca, and Singapore—were collectively known as the “Straits Settlements,” officially established in 1826. Initially administered under the EIC, they were transferred to the Colonial Office in London in 1867, becoming a Crown colony.

While the British initially adopted a policy of non-intervention in the Malay Peninsula, several factors prompted a shift toward greater involvement. The lucrative tin mining industry attracted British investors, and internal conflicts among Malay rulers threatened the stability necessary for economic activities. In the Pangkor Treaty of 1874, the Sultan of Perak accepted a British Resident to advise on administrative matters, effectively placing the state under British control.