Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 1243

NON-FEDERATED MALAY STATES-JOHORE

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on the Kelantan and Perlis frontiers. The F.M.S. Railway has been constructed from Bukit Mertajam, in Province Wellesley, to the Perlis-Siam frontier, and has been extended through Pahang as far north as Kuala Lipis from the junction at Gemas. Thirty-two miles of railway have been constructed in Kelantan, from the port of Tumpat south to Pasir Mas. Great benefits are expected from this extension of the F.M.S. railway system through these States, and very soon it should be possible to make the journey from Penang to Bangkok in thirty-six hours, thus effecting a saving of five days over the present sea-route between Bangkok and Europe via Singapore.

In 1910, the Sultan of Johore accepted the services of a British officer, who is known as the General Adviser, and he has been instrumental, with the help of other officers lent by the F.M.S. and Straits Civil Services, in effecting many important reforms in Johore, which promises to become one of the most prosperous States in the Peninsula.

With the construction of proper roads and the extension of the railways and telegraphs through these Native States, and the establishment of an adequate postal service, all the States have already made rapid progress.

JOHORE

This State occupies the southern portion of the Malayan Peninsula, and has an area of about 7,500 square miles. The State is ruled by a Sultan, who is independent, but under the protection of the British Government so far as external policy is concerned. The present Sultan, Ibrahim, was born in 1873, and succeeded his father, the late Sultan Abubakar, in 1895, being crowned on the 2nd of November of that year. On the 1st January, 1916, the dignity of an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George was conferred on His Highness the Sultan by His Majesty the King, and the investiture took place at Johore Bahru on May 11, 1916. Since 1910, the Sultan has had the services of an officer of the Straits or F.M.S. Civil Services as General Adviser, and other members of these services are seconded to control various departments, with the result that the government is now on a better footing and the finances materially improved. The country has made great progress in material prosperity, and its orderly condition has attracted a good deal of European capital, invested in planting enterprises.

The revenue for 1917 amounted to $10,168,624 against $7,976,862 in 1916, and the expenditure to $5,119,519 in 1917 against $4,602,433 in 1916. Improved methods of collection and administration, and the expansion of agricultural and the tin mining industries are factors in the increase of revenue. There is now no public debt. The railway, which connects Singapore

Singapore with the F.M.S. systein, was completed in 1909, and its construction has already given a great impetus to the opening up of this fertile State. Along its 120 miles it provides access to the extensive areas of valuable forest land not conveniently reached by the natural waterways. It is operated and leased by the F.M.S. Railway Department, which now controls the whole of the railways in the Malay Peninsula. The State owns a light railway in Muar; it carried 363,335 passengers in 1917 and 6,346 tons of goods, and the receipts were $99,412 compared with $100,228 in 1916.

Eighty-one schools are maintained by the Government, and at five of these English is taught.

The capital is the town of Johore Bahru, or new Johore, as distinguished from Johore Lâma, or old Johore, the former seat of the Sultans of Johore, which was situated a few miles up the wide estuary of the Johore river. The new town is a flourishing little place on the nearest point of the mainland to Singapore island, and lying about 14 miles to the north-east of Singapore city, in 1° 26' N. It contains some 11,000 inhabitants, mostly Chinese. Amongst the Government buildings are the Istana, court and police stations, barracks, gaol, hospital, market, railway station and a mosque. A plentiful supply of water has been provided since March, 1890. Good roads are being made, and public works, such as the construction of waterworks and bridges and the establishment of an electric light and power station at Johore Bahru, are