507
FOCLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
bulimi/C.O.882/12
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
94
I am inclined to think, however, that progress has been so rapid during the last few years that the Malay populations are a bit breathless and over-strained, and that a period of quiet consolidation and recuperation, which will enable a new generation to find its feet, is indicated.
C. 92300/32 [No. 69].
SIR,
No. 39.
A. C. BAKER, Acting British Adviser, Kedah,
21st August, 1932.
UNFEDERATED MALAY STATES (TRENGGANU).
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Confidential.)
(Received 5th December, 1932.)
"
Bel Retiro," Penang Hill. 7th November, 1932. In my Confidential despatch, dated 25th August, 1932,* I forwarded to you a memorandum by Mr. A. C. Baker on the working of the advisory system in the Unfederated State of Kedah, and I now enclose a copy of a similar report furnished to me by Mr. C. C. Brown, British Adviser, Trengganu, concerning the Unfederated State of Trengganu. I shall hand a copy of this report to Sir Samuel Wilson, when he
I have, &c.,
arrives.
Enclosure in No. 39.
C. CLEMENTI,
High Commissioner
MEMORANDUM ON THE WORKING OF THE ADVISORY SYSTEM IN TRENGGANU.
General.
1. TRENGGANU is in many respects the least developed State in the Malay Peninsula. Although little smaller than its neighbour Kelantan, its population is less than half that of Kelantan, and the revenue of the State has never reached $1,500,000 and is now barely $1,000,000.
The population at the 1931 census was distributed as follows:-
Malays
Chinese
Indians
Europeans
Eurasians
Other races
164,447
13,208
1,308
33
(This number has since decreased considerably.)
10
608
Administratively the State is divided into three districts, viz., Kemamam (southern), Kuala Trengganu (central) and Besut (northern). In Kemaman there has been some development by outside capital, viz., tin mines owned by European companies and Chinese, and iron mines owned by Japanese companies; and there is one large rubber and coconut estate owned by a Danish company. Otherwise Trengganu is a country of sinall and, judged by the standard of other States, rather indifferent agriculturists, and fishermen.
trend, The State professes to be, and probably is, the most strictly Mohammedan of any in the Peninsula. The disturbances of 1928 had a definitely anti-" infidel and until quite recently the District Officer of the affected area was, although a Malay and a Mohammedan, frowned upon because he wore clothes of Eourpean cut.
* No. 38.
95
Mohammedan law still remains the law of the State in matters of procedure and evidence and though for purposes of official finance the Western calendar has been adopted, it has not ousted the Mohammedan calendar otherwise.
The State has hitherto borne, probably not altogether undeservedly, an anti- 'British" reputation, and it has generally been considered that Trengganu officers are more difficult to work with than those of the other Unfederated States. This phase is. I think, passing. The State is still extremely insular and suspicious of any possi- bility of interference from outside, but I can now find no suggestion of any anti- British feeling. On the contrary, the attitude adopted by the State Council towards the recent Preferential duties was extremely cordial; and British officers, including myself, who have visited this year the scene of the 1928 disturbances and met the headmen of the villages concerned, have been accorded very friendly receptions. Undoubtedly, however, among the younger members of the State Council there is a strong element of nationalism, and that party would welcome a reduction of British personnel in Trengganu, if only as a means of obtaining increased emoluments for themselves out of the consequent savings or of improving the prospects of advance ment of their relatives in the Public Service.
Administration.
2. (a) The Ruler.-The Ruler of Trengganu is Sultan Sulaiman Badaru'l-'alam Shahi, brother of the ex-Sultan Muhammad, who was deposed in 1919 and now lives in Singapore. Sultan Sulaiman is 38 years of age, pleasant in appearance and manner, without vices and by no means unintelligent. He seems to have little will of his own and to be afraid of expressing an independent opinion on any matter that is not of immediate concern to himself. He is, however, very approachable, and is, I should say, far less nationalist in his outlook than many of his Ministers. He is not a member of the State Council, though he frequently attends its meetings and effect cannot be given to any resolution of the Council without his approval. I have not met any instance of his refusing to ratify a conciliar decision.
(b) The State Council.-Authority (subject to ratification by the Sultan) in all legislative and executive matters is concentrated in the State Council, which is com- posed of the Mentri Besar (Prime Minister), the British Adviser, the State Secretary, and 14 other members. Some of the latter are, however, prevented by reasons of distance or indifferent health from regular attendance at meetings, and it may be said that the active list of members consists of twelve persons, all of whom are officials and, except the Adviser, Malays. The Mentri Besar, the State Secretary, the Mufti (Mohammedan Legal Adviser) and the Judge are usually ranged on the side of the Adviser in any contentious matter; the Superintendent of Customs is a free-lance; and the Dato' Luar (the Auditor, also Superintendent of Education and a foreign Malay) is the leader of the Opposition. He is definitely of the Malaya for the Malays school, and is always treated with excessive deference by the Mentri Besar, who presides at Council meetings.
The State Council meets not less than once a week. Papers relating to matters for discussion are circulated beforehand and the opinion of the Adviser obtained before the subject is introduced for debate. There have been several rather acrid discussions during the current year, but the meeting has always closed on a friendly note and in no case has it been necessary to exercise the power of "advice" under the Treaty to over-ride an adverse decision.
(c) The British Adviser. The first treaty with Trengganu (that of 22nd April, 1910) contained the following Article :—
Article II.
"His Majesty the King of Great Britain declares that he only desires to place a British officer to reside in Trengganu to be an Agent with functions similar to to those of a Consular Officer.
A further treaty was signed on 25th May, 1919. Its preamble runs as follows:-
"whereas it is considered desirable by His Excellency the High Commis- sioner for the Malay States and by His Highness the Sultan of Trengganu with the concurrence of his Ministers that the State of Trengganu shall be administered on an improved basis.
"
and it substitutes a new Article II as follows:-
"His Highness the Sultan of Trengganu will receive
a British officer
to be called the British Adviser who shall live within the State of Trengganu,