Sejarah Penubuhan dan Perkembangan Central Lunatic Asylum Tanjong Rambutan, 1911 Hingga 1941(History and Development of Tanjong Rambutan Central Lunatic Asylum, 1911-1941)

Abstract

Pengenalan perkhidmatan kesihatan mental oleh British merupakan salah satu kesan daripada perkembangan kemajuan sosioekonomi di Semenanjung Tanah Melayu. Oleh itu, kajian ini membuat kupasan mengenai sejarah penubuhan Central Lunatic Asylum Tanjong Rambutan, Perak dengan berfokus mengenai penubuhan dan perkembangan institusi rawatan penyakit mental ini. Kajian merangkumi perbincangan seperti perkembangan pentadbiran, bilangan pesakit mental dan kaedah rawatan yang dilaksanakan sehingga tercetusnya Perang Dunia Kedua pada tahun 1941. Kajian kualitatif ini dilaksanakan melalui kaedah rujukan dan interpretasi sumber-sumber primer yang terdiri daripada rekod-rekod kolonial di Arkib Negara Malaysia selain melaksanakan penyelidikan lapangan di Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak. Hasil kajian membuktikan penubuhan Central Lunatic Asylum Tanjong Rambutan pada tahun 1911 telah mengalami beberapa perkembangan sehingga tahun 1941 termasuklah dari aspek pentadbiran dan peningkatan bilangan pesakit mental yang menerima rawatan. Kajian juga mendapati terdapat beberapa undang-undang berkaitan masalah penyakit mental telah dikuatkuasakan bagi memastikan keberkesanaan perkhidmatan kesihatan mental di Semenanjung Tanah Melayu. Kajian ini diharapkan dapat memberi sumbangan kepada bidang sejarah sosial terutamanya dalam penulisan sejarah kesihatan era kolonial sebelum tercetusnya Perang Dunia Kedua.

Abtract

The introduction of mental health services by the British is one of the effects of socio-economic progress in the development of the Peninsula Malay. This paper seeks to explore the history of the establishment of the Central Lunatic Asylum of Tanjong Rambutan, Perak by focusing on the establishment and development of the institutional treatment of mental illness. The study includes a discussion such as the development of administration, the number of mental patients and treatment methods implemented until the outbreak of World War II in 1941. This qualitative study was conducted by the reference method and interpretation of primary sources ranging from colonial records in the National Archives in addition to implementing field research at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak. The results prove the establishment of the Central Lunatic Asylum Tanjong Rambutan in 1911 has undergone a number of developments up to 1941, including from the administration and the growing number of mentally ill patients who receive treatment. The study also found that there were several laws related to the issue of mental illness that have been implemented to ensure the effectiveness of mental health services in the Peninsula Malay. This study has contributed to the field of social history, especially in the history of health during the colonial era, before the Second World War.

Keywords: Lunatic Asylum, mental illness problems, mental health services, mental patience,  law, history.