Directory_and_Chronicle_1936 — Page 1442

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THE UNFEDERATED MALAY STATES-JOHORE

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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 Kedali, Perlis and Trengganu adhere to the Mohammedan calendar, whereas Joliore and Kelantan have adopted the Christian calendar. The system of internal administration differs very greatly; on broad lines, however, the resemblance, between the States is strong. They are all Mohammedan 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) still uses the Kedah stamps.

JOHORE

This State occupies the southern portion of the Malay Peninsula, and has an area of about 7,678 square miles. The State is ruled by a Sultan, who is juristically independent, but politically under the protection of the British Government. 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 Highuess the Sultan by His Majesty the King, and the investiture took place at Johore Bahru on May 11th, 1916. More recently, His Higliness 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 Malayan Civil Service as General Adviser, and other members of that service seconded to control various departments, with the result that the government is now on a sound footing and financially one of the wealthier of the Malay States with large savings to meet the present fall in revenue. The country has made great pro- gress in material prosperity, and has attracted a good deal of European capital, invested in planting enterprises.

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The revenue for 1934 amounted to $16,660,594, against $11,806,152 in 1933, and the expenditure to $11,692,115 in 1934 against $11,589,496 in 1933. Surplus assets at the end of 1934 amounted to $42,548,736. The railway, which connects. Singapore with the F.M.S. system, was completed in 1909. 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. Railways Department, which now controls the whole of the railways in the Malay Península. A causeway has been constructed over the Straits of Johore, between the mainland of Johore and the Island of Singapore, carrying a railway track and a roadway. It was opened for passenger trains on 1st. October, 1923. The roadway was opened to vehicular traffic on 28th June, 1924.

The capital is the town of Johore Bahru, or new Johore, as distinguished from Johore Lama, 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 100,000 inhabitants, mostly Chinese. Public Works have received a good deal of attention in recent years and $3,642,989 was spent on them in 1934. There are now about 869 miles of roads in the State, and new roads are being constructed..