Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1384

THE UNFEDERATED MALAY STATES-JOHORE

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In general terms, it may be said that the development of the Unfederated Malay States in the last decade has been even more remarkable than that of the Federated

Malay States. Their revenue, for instance, in ten years has quadrupled.

Although each of the five Unfederated Malay States preserves its individuality with the greatest solicitude, there is the friendliest feeling, not only amongst them, but also between them and the Federated Malay States and the Colony of the Straits Settlements; and in any matter which tends to their common advantage, yet does not affect their individuality, there is ready co-operation. The States differ from one another in many respects, both great and small. As examples of the difference in the smaller matters, it may be mentioned that Kedah, Perlis and Trengganu adhere to the Muhammadan calendar, whereas Johore and Kelantan here adopted the Christian Calendar. In Johore and Perlis, Fridays and Sundays are observed; in Johore, Friday only; and in Kelantan, Sunday only. The system of internal administration differs very greatly; on broad lines, however, the resemblance between the States is strong. They are all Muhammadan countries, and are governed by a Ruler who is advised by a State Council. (Johore has separate Legislative and Executive Councils; in the other States the Councils are both Legislative and Executive.) They use the coinage and the currency notes of the Straits Settlements. Their European Officials are British Officers, almost all of whom are lent, on deputation, to them by the Governments of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States. Johore, Kedah, Kelantan and Trengganu have their separate issues of stamps. The small State of Perlis (which in earlier days was a part of Kedah, and which is still closely connected with it) uses the Kedah stamps.

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. More recently, His Highness has been decorated with the Order of the British Empire in further recognition of his services during the Great War. 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 $9,125,694 in 1918, and the expenditure to $5,119,519 in 1917 against $5,858,591 in 1918. Improved methods of collection and administration, and the expansion of agricultural and the tin mining industries are factors in the increase of revenue, which has more than doubled since 1914. Surplus assests at the end of 1918 amounted to £760,701. The railway, which connects Singapore with the F.M.S. system, 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 con- veniently 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 254,789 passengers in 1918 and 3,973 tons of goods, and the receipts were $57,623 compared with $93,080 in

1917.

Eighty two schools are maintained by the Government and at four of these English is taught. At the English College, where no Malay is taught and which is conducted on the lines of an English Public School, there were 75 boys in residence in 1918.