Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 1205

FEDERATED MALAY STATES

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The Federated Malay States comprise the four states of Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. In 1895 a treaty was signed by the Rulers of the four States by which they agreed to constitute their countries into a Federation to be administered under the advice of the British Government, Each State is administered under the advice of a Resident, subject to the instructions of the High Commissioner who is also Governor of the Straits Settlements. The Federal Government is under the immediate control of the Federal Secretary subject to the instructions of the High Commissioner. In 1909 a Federal Council was created for the joint arrangement of all matters of common interest to the Federation or affecting more than one State and for the proper enactment of all laws intended to have force throughout the Federation or in more than one State. The Federal offices are at Kuala Lumpur, Selangor.

The States have over 1,068 miles of railway in the Malay Peninsula. They have 5,015 miles of roads, of which 3,248 are metalled and gravelled. Of the metalled roads 2,482 miles or 76% are bituminously treated. The wire mileage of telegraphs and telephones is 61,546 (of which 27,990 miles of wire is in under- ground cables). Waterworks wharves, hospitals, prisons, schools, and many other public buildings have been constructed, and important schemes carried out. The principal sources of revenue are, the alluvial tin deposits, and the plantation rubber industry, the country producing one-third of the world's supply of rubber. Tin has been worked in the Malay States for centuries and the F. M. S. have been for many years now the largest producers of tin ore in the world. The deposits worked are for the most part alluvial but the country also possesses lode deposits.

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Planting enterprise in the Federated Malay States for many years had not proved very successful, but the introduction of rubber cultivation completely transformed the agricultural prospects of the country. The area under rubber at the end of 1939 was 1,688,719 acres. Approximately 251,500 acres of land are under coconuts, for which the soil and climate of these States are pecu- liarly well suited, and the cultivation of rice has been very much encouraged by the construction of vast irrigation works. The success of every form of agriculture and of all the efforts of the Government to develop the country by means of railways, irrigation, and other great public works, depends upon an adequate supply of labour. The Governments of the Colony and of the Feder- ated Malay States, supported by the planters, have succeeded in securing an adequate supply of Indian labour, by a new system of recruiting and by offer- ing higher wages and other advantages. An Agricultural Department to foster agricultural interests, to encourage the cultivation of new products, to conduct experiments and to be a general source of information for planters, is doing useful work.

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In the Federated Malay States there are approximately 81,500 children attending English and Malay Schools conducted or supported by the Govern- ment. There are also about 10,000 children in private English schools. In addition to these schools there are a number of Chinese and Tamil vernacular 'schools which are either Government aided, or under private management.

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In the three western States there is a law compelling the attendance of Malay children who live within reasonable distance of a school. In recent years there has been an increased demand by Malays for vernacular and English education.