Federated Malay States

"Federated Malay States (see 1 7.47 8). - This territory enjoyed a notable immunity from sufferings entailed by the World War, and was able to make substantial contributions in money and armaments toward the needs of the British Empire. The pop. in 1919 was estimated at 1,315,700; the birth-rate was 2 4.57 and the death-rate 29.37 per thousand. In 1918 the influenza epidemic caused 5,643 deaths. Malaria is by far the most deadly disease normally; the death-rate from this was 12.9 per thousand in 1919, but a slight reduction is apparent, and the work of the special malaria bureau is extending.

The estimated pop. of the several states was: Perak, 622,403; Selangor, 391,103; Negri Sembilan, 156,679; Pahang, 145,515. The chief towns had populations as follows according to the census of 1911: Kuala Lumpor (Selangor), 46,718; Ipoh, 23,978; Taiping, 1 9,55 6; Kampar, 11,604 (all in Perak); Seremban (Negri Sembilan), 8,667; Kuala Kuantan (Pahang), 2,102. The pop. in 1911 included the following nationalities: Europeans and Americans, 3,284; Eurasians, 2,649; Chinese, 433,244; Malays, 420,840; Indians, 172,465; Japanese, 2,029. Out of the total number of labourers on estates, 237,128 in 1919, 160,657 were Indians. Of these, 59,154 came from India on free passage during the year, out of a total of 71,000 Indian immigrants in all. Chinese immigrants numbered 25,816, and emigrants 26,033. The activities of a Chinese Bolshevist society working from headquarters at Canton were revealed among the trade guilds, and many labourers were induced to limit their output. The Chinese Triad societies continued to cause trouble in various directions of organized crime such as robbery and blackmail. Serious crimes numbered 1,002 in 1919 and 821 in 1918; gang robberies were especially numerous in Kinta (Perak) until two powerful robber bands were broken up in 1919. In that year 469 persons were banished, 400 being Chinese. The police numbered 87 British and 3,479 Asiatics.

In 1919 important movements for the extension of education were set on foot, despite difficulties encountered in increasing the number of teachers and the improvement of the teaching standard. A new training college for teachers was established at Tanjong Malin '. A temporary scholarship scheme for sending teachers to Hong-Kong University was set on foot, to serve until more training colleges were established and pending the opening of Raffles College, founded in Singapore. In 1919 there were 533 schools, with an average attendance of 27,325.

Revenue amounted in 1919 to $7 2, 1 35, 0 75 ($=2s.4d.), the principal sources being customs ($18,024,762), licences, etc. ($17,921,- 677) and railways ($ 1 4,957,4 60). Expenditure amounted to $70,676,- 961, the largest item being upon railways ($26,421,822). The expenditure of the agricultural department was $558,156 and the revenue $266,360. Important researches were made on the deterioration of rubber in storage, which was found to be due mainly to surface oxidation, from which it is indicated that the slab form is preferable to the crepecl form for storage. The mouldy rot disease (in Negri Sembilan) and the brown bast disease were further investigated. A Government experimental coco-nut plantation has been started. The forest department had in 1919 a surplus of revenue amounting to $490,877, and over 10 per cent of the total area of the states is in reserved forest. The commercial timbers of the country are in process of being scientifically investigated, and the distillation of native woods has also been made a subject of research.

The mines of the territory employed 113,107 hands in 1919. Revenues from mining, exclusive of special war taxes, amounted to $10,489,185. Tin was exported to the amount of 620,518 piculs (of 1 331 lb.), and the average price per picul was $120.68, as against $150.62 in the preceding year. In the early part of 1919 tin was unsalable locally, and the Government bought from the local mines pending the reestablishment of the market, the subsequent sales realizing nearly $1,000,000 profit. Other minerals were produced as follows: tungsten ores, 7,323 piculs (exported); coal, 191,293 tons; gold, 16,402 oz., of which all but 1,096 oz. was from the Raub mine. The total value of exports in 1919 was $279,135,105 (from Perak, $124,733,232; Selangor, $100,848,202; Negri Sembilan, $42,289,333; Pahang, $11,264,338), the principal articles, in addition to the minerals already mentioned, being rubber and copra. Imports in the same year were valued at $118,854,965. One thousand one hundred and twenty-two merchant vessels, including 197 ocean-going steamers, called at Port Swettenham, over 97% being British. There were 949 m. of railway with 212 stations open at the end of 1919. Connexion was established between the Malayan and Siamese railways in 1918, and a service between Singapore and Bangkok was inaugurated, the journey occupying four days. The length of metalled roads in 1919 was 2,362 M. (Perak, 835; Selangor, 763; Negri Sembilan, 420; Pahang, 344); of earth roads, 158 m.; of paths (other than the smallest), 1,791 m.

The telegraph and telephone system was extended by over 800 m. of line between 1910 and 1919, and in the latter year amounted to 2,372 m., in addition to which the postal and telegraph department of the Federated States had 121 m. of line in Johor. (0. J. R. H.)