TRENGGANU
With a territory of about 5,000 square miles, an extensive sea-board and a popula- tion at the 1921 census of 153,092, Trengganu is the least developed of all the Native States. The capital is Kuala Trengganu, where the British Agent was the only Euro- pean resident when the census was taken in 1911. There were only 20 Europeans in the State at the end of 1918. Mr. J. L. Humphreys, the British Adviser, in his report for 1919, stated:-"The amendment of Treaty, bringing with it a closer form of British control, made the past year an eventful one in the history of Trengganu. At the time of writing it is possible to say that the change to the new régime has been made smoothly and successfully. Progress during the year was hindered by a prolonged. and dangerous food-shortage and by the want of trained officers (the British Adviser is still the only European officer in the State, there are no English-speaking subor- dinates, and all correspondence is conducted in Jawi). But there was a steady expansion of revenue, and signs were observable of more enlightened ideals among the ruling class. The work of reform in this backward State will be heavy and difficult; but untouched natural wealth and an industrious population make its future prosperity a matter beyond doubt." Under the new Agreement trained European officers are now in charge of certain departments, and evidence of the good work of the new régime is shown in the revenue returns, which rose from $183,723 in 1915 to $970,541 in 1920. A loan of $1,000,000 for development works was granted by the Straits Settlements Government in June, 1922, and will have a far-reaching effect on the future of the State.
By an Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Trengganu, dated May 24th, 1919, His Highness Sultan Muhammad bin Zainalabidin agreed to receive a British Adviser in place of an Agent, whose advice must be asked and acted upon in all matters affecting the general administration of the country. Mr. J. L. Humphreys was appointed as the first British Adviser. This brings the State into line with the other Protected Malay States, and should help to bring about a new era of prosperity. All that is needed to render Trengganu more accessible is railway connection with the F.M.S. East Coast Railway system. Telegraphic connection with Singapore was established in March, 1922.
Trengganu lies between latitudes 4° 30 min. and 5° 45 min. North and longitude 102° 15 min. and 103° 30 min. East. There are no trunk roads or railways and the rivers are not navigable beyond a certain point from the sea owing to rapids. There are about 11 miles of metalled cart-road at the capital. Communication with the interior is by rivers and good native paths. The people are ingenious and, for Malays, in- dustrious, and excel as boatbuilders and fishermen. They also engage in silk and cotton- weaving, and iron, brass and nickel manufactures. In 1922, 80,466 piculs of dried fish (valued at $887,050), 31,318 piculs of copra, 1,557 piculs of black pepper, and 7,240 piculs of tin ore, valued at $356,167, were exported. A bright future is predicted for Trengganu as a mining country, tin, wolfram and gold having been found. In 1922, 2,924 piculs of wolfrain, valued at $44,400, were exported, as compared with 180 piculs, valued at $3,600, in 1921.
The principal imports in 1922 were: Rice, cotton piece-goods, opium, sugar, sarongs, tobacco, condensed milk, machinery, and kerosene; and exports: Tin ore, wolfram ore, fish, copra, black pepper, and rubber._ Revenue is raised by means of "farms" and duties on all kinds of exports. The State Treasurer returned the revenue at $669,763 in 1922 and the expenditure at $858,303, the corresponding figures for 1921 being $547,619 and $759,054. The total value of exports from Trengganu to Singapore in 1922 was $2,287,158, against $2,297,238 in 1921; and of imports from Singapore $2,255,249 in 1922, against $2,574,946 in 1921.
Regular steamship communication is maintained with Singapore and Bangkok, and locally-built motor-boats maintain passenger service along the Trengganu coast. The rainfall and temperature conditions are similar to those in the other Malay States.