TRENGGANU
With a territory of about 5,000 square miles, an extensive sea-board, and a popula- tion at the 1931 census of 179,664, Trengganu is the least developed of all the Malay States. Its situation lies between latitudes 4° 30′ and 5° 45′ North and longitude 102° 15' and 130° 30′ East. The capital is Kuala Trengganu situated on both banks of the mouth of the Trengganu River, with a population of 13,972.
There are 145 miles of road open to traffic. Communication with the interior is by good native paths and rivers. The latter, however, are not navigable beyond a cer- tain point from the sea owing to rapids. There are no railways (except for 3 light railways on Mines).
A sixty six-mile trunk road from Kuala Trengganu to the Northern boundary of the State has been completed and opened to traffic.
Regular steamship communication is maintained with Singapore and Bangkok. and locally built motor boats maintain a passenger service along the Trengganu coast, During the North-East Monsoon, from November till March, the weather is at times such as to close the coast to shipping for short periods. The rainfall and tem- perature conditions are similar to those in the other Malay States.
Telegraph communication was established with Singapore in 1922. Telegraph offices are at Kuala Trengganu, Kretai, Dungun and Kemaman. There are small local telephone exchanges at Kuala Trengganu, Kemaman and Besut..
The total net value of trade for the State in 1931 was $6,718,876, as against $10,027,252 in 1930.
The chief Exports (1931) were:-Dried fish, $779,994; para rubber, $415,667; tin-ore, $472,191; haematite, $870,995; copra, $132,608; areca nuts, $207,982; and manganese orc, $70,784.
The chief Imports were: Rico, $951,524; tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, $289,084; cotton and silk stuff, $301,570; sugar, $127,108; petroleum, $178,210; and tinned milk, $76,901.
The Malays are ingenious and industrious, and excel as boat-builders and fisher- men. They also engage in silk and cotton weaving, net making, and iron, brass and nickel manufacturing.
The revenue of the State for the year A.H. 1350 (18th May, 1931 to 5th May, 1932) amounted to $983,675 and the expenditure to $1,163,699, the corresponding figures for A.H. 1349 being $1,235,230 and $1,445,708.
By an agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Trengganu, dated 24th May, 1919, the then Sultan 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.
Three loans totalling $3,500,000 for development purposes were granted by the Straits Settlements Government in 1922, 1925 and 1928. These have enabled the State (by resumption of concessions) to recover control of important natural resources, and to incur large expenditure on essential works of development-surveys, machinery, buildings and roads
A third loan of $1,500,000, to be spent on road construction, was approved by the Straits Government in 1928 and a sum of $1,200,000 had been drawn to the end of A.H.
1349.
The reigning Sultan is His Highness Sir Suleiman Badru'l-alam Shah, K.C.M.G. ibni almerhum Sultan Zainalabidin. He was installed Sultan on 26th May, 1920 and he governs the State in consultation with his State Council.